OUTLINE SKETCHES 



s^^tjk: ootjtvt y^. 



O U T L I N K 



SKETCHES OF SAUK COUNTY ; 



CJ 



ITS HISTOEY, 



FROM THE FIRST MARKS OF MAN'S HAND TO 1861, 



|lt]5 S;0ii0j}i'iij)h|», 



BOTH ■V7"KITTE1>T .A-lSriD ILLXJSXIi-A.TEID. 



By AVILLIAM II. CANFIELD, 

CIVIL ENGINEER. 



BARABOO, WIS.: 
A. N. KELLOGG, FRINTER, REPUBLIC OFFICE. 

1861. 



^ 



TO THE PUBLIC. 



It is tlie desire of the undersigned to present a 
collection of historical, topographical, and physical 
observations and facts, relative to this portion of the 
country. It being an even period of time, when the 
United States census has been taken, and now com- 
pleted, and seeing the necessity of preserving such 
facts and observations as have already been collected, 
and collecting still others, it has seemed to me appro- 
priate now to present to the public the following 
work. 

WM. II. CANFIELD. 



AXTTQUITY 



I shall devote a few pages to tlie antiquated liuman- 
ity of tlie western liemispliere — to those who looked 
upon the same scenes we look npon, and tilled the 
same soil that we are tilling, and laid their bones 
w^here we must lay our own. 

I have mostly quoted from such authors as have 
■suited my views, and, perhaps, have done them injus- 
tice in giving so little of their laboj's, merely taking 
their theories, without bringing forward many of their 
proofs and arguments. But for our purpose it must 
suffice. He that is interested in antique man, must 
read where the subject is investigated at length. This 
must, of necessity, be a mere syllabus. The world is 
now so full of available knowledge, our travelling 
fjicilities so good, that distant people become, in our 
imagination, our neighbors. Their widely different 
]nanners, their social life, their religion and govern- 
ment, become common place to our feelings and reflec- 
tions. Bayard Taylor and many others, yek, almost 
daily visitors are telling us many things of the frigid 
zones, and the people who inhabit them ; while Dr. 
Livingston and others, are furnishing similar informa- 
tion relative to the torrid zones. But where is the 
author who can tell us about the Mound-builders who 
once so numerously inhabited Sauk county and the 
adjacent country, at least a thousand years ago ? It 



C ANTIQUITY. 

opons a great field for inqniiy, and for our imagina- 
tioiis to play in. 

In now turnins; our thonglits to tlie acts of Man, we 
naturally look for a beginning. But where ? With 
Lis geological footprints ? We will leave that to the 
geologist to explore. We next get the marks of his 
hands in the erection of his sepulchres, monuments, 
and cultivated fields. We here are in the very midst 
of them. Who were, or what were the peoj^le ? and 
when did they exist ? AVere the climate, the soil, and 
natural productions the same ? and were they the an- 
cestors of the present Indian races ? Did they culti- 
vate the earth, and live a vegetarian life ? or by the 
chase ? These, and many other queries, naturally arise. 

We will not attempt to theorize much, but give 
such informati(5n as we are in possession of, and shall 
quote largely from I. A. Lapiiam's ^'■Antiquities of 
Wisconsin^ This work all who are fond of such inves- 
tigations should possess. It was published in June, 
1855. He commenced the work in behalf of the 
American Antiquarian Society, but it was finally pub- 
lished by the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Laphani 
made the surveys and compilation without charge or 
compensation, other than the incidental expenses. 
Surely the State cannot be ashamed of such a son. 

Who were these mound-builders ? Like the Central 
American Indians, were they peculiar to themselves, 
and nothing, either in this or the eastern hemisphere, 
like them ? After surveys and examination of works 
in the vicinity of Racine, Dr. Hoy says : " In conclu- 
sion I must remark that whatever be the leo-itimate 
inference drawn from similar works -and remains in 



ANTIQUITY. 7 

other jolaces, concerning the state of civilization attain- 
ed by the mound-builders, the evidence here goes to 
prove that they were an extremely barbarous people, 
in no respect superior to most of the savage- tribes of 
modern Indians." 

Mr. Lapham says : " It is not strange that changes 
should, from time to time, take place in the character 
and habits of a people so rude and so little advanced 
in civilization. Different tribes have different habits, 
and tlie stronger one may have overrun and swallowed 
up the weaker, and thus changed its customs and de- 
stroyed its institutions. In this way the mode of 
burial, and even the religious ceremonies, might be 
altered ; those of the conquerors being substituted for 
those of the conquered. History records many such, 
events. The inhabitants of Egypt have ceased to 
build pyramids and sj^hinxes ; the Greeks have ceased 
to erect temples ; and yet we have reason to believe 
that their descendants occupy the same country. Is it 
more strange that the ancestors of the present Indians 
should have erected mounds of earth, than that the ab- 
origines of any country should have had habits differ- 
ent from their posterity ? We need not, therefore, 
look to Mexico, or any other country, for the descend- 
ants of the mound-builders. We probably see tkem 
in the present red race of the same or adjacent re- 
gions." " If the present tribes have no traditions 
running back as far as the times of Allouez and Mar- 
quette, or even to the more recent time of Jonathan 
Carver, it is not strange that none should exist in re- 
gard to the mounds, whicli must be of much earlier 
date. It is by considerations of this nature, that we 



8 ANTIQUITY. 

are led to tlie conclusion that the mound-builders of 
Wisconsin were none otliers than the ancestors of the 
present tribes of Indians. 

" Another fact is important in this connection. The 
mound-builders occuj^ied the same localities that are 
now the favorite resort of the present Indians, who 
still often make use of the mounds for the burial of 
their dead. They have a kind of veneration for them, 
which may be the result of a lingering tradition of 
their sacred origin. The implements and utensils of 
the mound-builders v/ere the same, in many cases, as 
those used by the recent inhabitants, before their in- 
tercourse with the whites ; and, as it has been quite 
clearly shown that the latter have, in former times, 
erected mounds of earth over their dead, we may con- 
sider such facts as tending to prove the unity of these 
people. 

"It is a fiict of some importance in the deciding 
upon the general characteristics of the mound-builders, 
that they have selected the same localities as their suc- 
cessors, and j^robably for the same reasons, to wit : 
the greater facility of subsistence." 

Of the contents of the mounds, — -remains of ancient 

workmanship, (fee, he says : 

" It is important to determine with certainty whether 
the relics found buried are the work of the original 
mound-builders, and placed there at the time of erec- 
tion of the mounds, or have been deposited subse- 
quently. This can usually be done with a reasonable 
degree of certainty by one accustomed to such investi- 
gations. 

'• So far as I have had opportunity to observe, there 



ANTIQUITY. 9 

are Ho original remains in tlie mounds of imitative 
form, beyond a few scattered fragments tliat may have 
gained a place there by accident. Many of the mounds 
have been entirely removed, including the earth be- 
neath for a considerable depth, in the process of gra- 
ding the streets in Milwaukee, and it is usually found 
that the natural surface had not been disturbed at the 
time of the erection, but that the several layers or 
strata of mould, clay, gravel, tfec, are continuous be- 
low the structure as on the contiguous grounds. 

" Great numbers of the smaller conical tumuli 
are also destit;ite of any remains. If any human 
bodies were ever buried under them, they are now so 
entirely ' returned to dust ' that no appai'ent traces of 
them are left. If we assume that each mound was a 
place of burial, we must infer, from the absence of 
utensils, that the common practice of depositing with 
the dead the implements to be used in the other world, 
is of comparatively recent origin, since some of these, 
at least, would have resisted decay. The middle-sized 
conical mounds, and those of larger dimensions, almost 
always contain evidence of the deposit of one or more 
human bodies. These are always very much decayed, 
only one skull having been found sufficiently entire to 
enable Dr. Hoy, with much skill and labor, to restore 
it sufficiently to make out its general characteristics. 
A fortunate combination of circumstances had caused 
this preservation. The skull, and some other bones, 
were enveloped in a peculiar kind of clay, which seems 
to have possessed a preservative quality beyond that 
of ordinary earth, of which most of the accumulation 
was composed ; and on the very top of the mound was 



10 ANTIQUlTt. 

11 larsfe tree, wliicli had shed off the rains for seVetal 
centuries. "Many peculiarities of this cranium are 
pointed out by Dr. Hoy. The following are its dimen- 
sions : 

Longitudinal diameter, 6.8 Length of head & face, 8.2 
Parietal diameter, ... . 5.3 Zygomatic diameter, . . 4.9' 
Occipito-frontal arch, .13.8 I Facial angle, TG*^ 

" To give the reader more particular information re- 
specting the supposed characteristics of this interesting 
relic of an ancient people, I have, with the assistance 
of a ^phrenological friend, prepared the following 
' chart.^ For the locality of the ' organs,' cfec, refer- 
ence was had to Spueziieim, whose works have become 
a portion of the literatm'e of the country, and are to 
be found in all important libraries. Although the 
principles of this professed science may not be true in 
all their details, yet its nomenclature affords the means 
of presenting the conformation of the skull in a defi- 
nite manner. The fio:ure followino; the name of each 
organ, indicates its relative development ; signifying' 
deficiency, and 6 veiy full or unusual prominence. 

AFFECTIVE OEGANS. 

r. PEOPENSITIES. 

Destructiveness, • -4^ I Combativeness, 4|. 

Amativeness, 6 Secretiveness, 5 

Philo progenitiveness, . . 6 Acquisitiveness, 4^ 

Adhesiveness, 5 Constructiveness, . .- . .■ . . 2^ 

Lihabitiveness, 5 I 

II. SENTIMENTS. 

Cautiousness, (very full,) 6 Conscientiousness, 4i 

Approbativeness, 5 Hope, 4^ 



ANTIQUITY. 



U 



Self-esteem, 4 

Benevolence, 3 

Reverence, 3 

Firmness, 4 



Marvelloiisness, 3 

Ideality, ^ 4 

Mirtlifulness, 3^ 

Imitation, 2^ 



INTELLECTUAL ORGANS. 



III. PERCEPTIVE. 



Individuality, (large,) . . 6 

Configuration, 2 

Size, 6 

Weight and resistance, . 3^ 

Coloring, 3 

Locality, 5 



Order, 21 

Calculation, 2 

Eventuality, 5^ 

Time, 2 

Tune, 2i 

Language, (uncertain,) . 5 



IV. EELECTIVE. 



Comparison, • • 4.^ I Causality, 5 

This chart shows that the affective, or feeling facul. 
ties, prevailed over the intellectual in the proportion 
of 4.3 to 3.9 ; and the several groups of organs are 
developed in tlie following order : 

Propensities, 4.8 Sentiment, 3.9 



Reflective, 4.7 



Perceptive, 3.8 



" Whether these figures can be relied upon as indica- 
ting the character and disposition of the individual to 
whom the skull belonged, may be doubted ; though it 
T\dll be perceived that their indications correspond with 
the general character of the aborigines, in the large 
cautiousness, individuality, <t;c., and the deficient con- 
structiveness, calculation, &g. 

" But few implements, ornaments, or works of art of 
any kind, have been discovered in the mounds of Wis- 
consin, that could not be traced to recent Indian burials ; 
and yet it is certain that had they beeii originally de^ 



12 ANTIQUITY. 

posited, they would still be found there. The stone 
axes, flint arrowheads, and articles of pottery are of a 
durable character, and could not have decayed since 
the creation of the mounds. Hence we conclude that 
the more ancient mound-builders of Wisconsin were 
not in the habit of making such deposits." 

Dr. Hoy adds : 

" Durins: these investisrations we obtained sufficient 
evidence to warrant me in forming the following con- 
clusions : The bodies are regularly buried in a sitting 
or partly kneeling, posture, facing the east, with the 
legs fixed under them. They were covered with a 
bark or log roofing, over which the mound was built. 
The apparent confusion in which the skeletons are some- 
times found, is owing to their falling over at different 
angles at the time, perhaps, of the giving way and ca- 
ving in of the temporary roofing. It is quite common 
to find skeletons before reiiching the primitive recept?- 
cle or pit. These were undoubtedly subsecpient inter- 
ments, made by the modern Indians. They are in a 
•different state of preservation, and are mostly found 
in an extended posture. All the primitive crania were 
crushed and flattened by the weight of the superin- 
cumbent materials. In two instances, however, I suc- 
ceeded, by great care and labor, in restoring these flat- 
tened fragment to their original shape. One of them 
is described in the preceding chart." " The two were 
much alike, and quite diflerent, in several particulars, 
from the various Indian crania that I have examined. 
The zygomatic arch has not the same projection, the 
angle of the cheek bone is more obtuse, and the orbits 
are rather less angular than in the modern Indian. 



TiirniilJ 



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CROUP OF ANCIENT MOUNDS. 

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A]^TIQUITY. 13 

Tlie heavy projecting jaw and tlie flattened occiput, 
;are quite characteristic of these ancient mound skulls. 
Facial angle, 76"". Internal capacity, eighty cubic 
inches." 

Dr. Hot says : 

" In regard to the antiquity of the works at Racine, 
it may be stated that on the mound from which I ob- 
tained the pottery, there was a burr-oak stump which 
•contained 250 rings, and the tree was cut ten years 
since, when the land was first occupied. Near this, I 
excavated another mound, on the centre of which 
were the remains of a lai'ge stump, which must have 
been much older. Immediately under the stump I 
obtained the cranium before mentioned. A stump on 
the long mound, at A., (plate ii.,) has 310 rings ; and 
near by are the remains of a large tree, and an oak 
stump five feet in diameter. These facts indicate an 
antiquity of at least a thousand years." 

As regards their general arrangement and order, Mr. 
Lapham says : 

"As is the case with the works of other forms, 
there are no two precisely alike in their dimensions, or 
in their direction with reference to the cardinal j)oints. 
But it has been observed that the larger extremity, or 
head, is usually directed towards the south. They vary 
in length from one hundred to four hundred feet. 
Their usual height of the body may be stated at four 
feet, from which there is commonly a gradual diminu- 
tion, both in the height and width, to the extremity. 
It is frequently impossible to decide exactly where it 
terminates. They are almost always associated with 
mounds of round or oblong form, usually having about 



14 ANTIQUITY. 

the same general direction. A¥liere tliey occupy the 
edge of elevated ground, the head generally points 
obliquely towards the low ground, and the projections, 
or " logs," are on the side towards the ridge. 

" Examples may be found of all forms, from a true 
circle through the oval and elongated oval to the ob- 
long mounds and long ridges. 

" Again, there is a succession of mounds, from the 
simple ridge of considerable size at one end, and gi'ad- 
ually diminishing to a point at the other, through the 
intermediate forms ha^dng one, two, three or four pro- 
jections, to the turtle form. In this way, also, we may 
trace a gradual development, so to speak, of nearly all 
the more complicated forms. It is not pretended to 
assert that this was the order in which the mounds 
were erected, or that the aborigines gradually acquired 
the art by successive essays or lessons. Indeed, we are 
led to believe that the more complicated forms are the 
most ancient. 

" The relative ao;es of the different works of Wis- 
consin, so far they can be ascertained from the facts 
now before us, are probably about as follows : 

First and oldest. — The animal forms, and the great 
works at Aztalan. 

Second. — The conical mounds built for sepulchral 
purposes, which come down to a very recent period. 

Third. — The indications of garden beds, planted in 
regular geometrical figures or straight lines. 

Fourth. — The plantations of the present tribes, who 
plant without system or regularity, in small hillocks. 

" Thus the taste for regular forms and arrangements, 
and the habits of construction with earthy materials, 



Seem to liave been gradually lost, until all traces of 
them disappear in our modern degenerate red man. 

" The animal-shaped mounds appear to be peculiar 
to Wisconsin ; for the few obscure instances noticed in 
Ohio, by Messrs. Squier and Davis, can hardly be 
deemed an exception to this remark. They indicate a 
difterence in the character of the people occupying 
these I'egions, but not greater than often exists be- 
tween the neighboring tribes or nations." 

These ancient earth- works are very abundant in 
Sauk county — I think more so than in any other part 
of the State, it being about central to the country 
occupied by the animal-shaped mound-builders, which 
is of about 150 miles circuit. They are the most 
abundant in the valley of the Wisconsin river, and 
about the Baraboo rapids. There is one fine excep- 
tion, however, in the group of mounds in the town of 
Dellona, on section 17, town 13 north, range 5 east. 
It contains many mounds, in many different forms: 
the parallel ridge, elliptical, square and octagon inclo- 
sures containing from two square rods to nearly one 
acre, with single and double walls, now about two feet 
high. Within the octagon inclosure is a pit, resem- 
bling ' a fallen-in well, and considerable broken pot- 
tery, &c., were found. There are animal and bird- 
shaped mounds, and the round, or tumuli. These 
latter seem to be of a more recent date, from their 
being more acute. They are so steep that is difficult 
for teams to get on to them for the purpose of culti- 
vation. Time has not yet levelled them as much as 
the rest. 

Near James A. Maxwell's residence, Baraboo, there 



I G ANTIQUITY. 

are aiilmal-sliapect mounds inverted, i. e., auimal-sliapecl 
excavations. The garden-bed mounds do not, in this- 
county, seem to be in company with other mounds, 
but, so to speak, are back more in the country, i. e.,. 
back towards the head of the streams, and in regions 
not calcuhited for iishing, but agricultural purposes, as 
the region about BablVs prairie, and for several miles, 
either \^lxy, where you can find large fields of them. 

' T]]ese beds are aliout six feet wide, and from six to 
twelve inches high, and about one and a half feet 
apart, and parallel to each other. In fields of from 
ten to one hundred acres, the beds will have several 
different directions, as if different families had cultiva- 
ted each his own field, according to the lay of the 
ground and the taste of its meml)ers, (and I guess they 
got good crops, for they here had a good soil.) 

The mounds of imitative foi'ins, and tumuli, are 
so plenty near the Wisconsin river, which forms the 
north and east boundary of the county, that we will 
not describe the different groups, but say, in general 
terms, that they occupy the most pleasant spots along 
the river, such as the Indians and our own people love 
to occupy", except the open prairies, on which I do not 
remember to have seen any. In looking over the dif- 
ferent groups, I have noticed that the tumuli, or sepul- 
chral mounds, usually occupy a central part of the 
ground, with the beast and bird mounds, and other 
forms, occupying the outskirts, as though they Avere 
mock guards to the dead. One mound that I survey- 
ed several years ago, is in the shape of a night hawk, 
with a small flat mound under its left wins:, havino; the 
bill of the bird turned towards it, as thougli it were 






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'<;arrymg it. The tliouglit suggested itself to me that 
it might be intended as the bearer of souls from earth 
to heaven. The last mound that I have made a spe- 
cial survey and plot of, is more interesting than any 
other I have seen. It represents a man with a head 
dress on ; has arms, legs and feet. The head is 
towards the south ; is represented as walking, one 
foot being partly raised ; is 214 feet long. It is loca- 
ted near John "Wing's house, on northeast quarter of 
southeast quarter, section 28, town 12 north, range 7 
east. See figure 1. 

If, according to Mr. Lapiiam, the most complicated 
and finest of these works, as at Aztalan, are the oldest, 
and their builders were the ancestors of our present race 
of Indians, who have degenerated to their present condi- 
tion, it would seem to show that the former had emigra- 
ted hither from some other country, where they had 
risen to a scale at least corresponding to their works 
here represented. Indeed, they probably stood higher 
in their native soil, for all new settlements are not equal 
to their " father land ;" otherwise we should see a gra- 
dation of development — the rising, as well as the 
falling, in these works — the advancement, as well as 
the degeneracy. This is in the nature of things. 
Nothing could exist in its highest state of perfection 
without a gradual development. 

I have formed a theory from reading Mr. Lapiiam' s 
work, and my own limited observation, as follows : 

That the ancestors of our present Indian tribes 
existed here before the mound-builders, and that the 
latter emigrated here from the south, probably in a 
peaceful way, (for according to the chart given by Mr. 



1 8 a:ntiquity. 

Lapiiam of a moiind-builder, tlieir destructiveness and 
combativeuess is rather small,) got possession of tliis 
reo-ion of country, and turned tlieir attention more 
than they were accustomed to in their native land, to 
the chase and fishing, but still cultivated the soil some, 
as seen in their garden beds. These garden beds may 
seem to show a later date, in some instances, but as 
far as my observation goes, they are on grounds sep- 
arate and distinct from the other mounds, and their 
makers probably cultivated them when they were bury- 
ing their dead, and erecting over them the tumuli and 
constructing other mounds, agreeably to their reli- 
gious feelings. Those of the bird form are generally 
represented as flying southwardly, and the animals as 
walking in thlt direction, i. e., towards their " father 
land ;" and, like the Chinese, they may wish, after 
death, to be buried in their old homes, and these imi- 
tative forms may have answered the ends of their reli- 
gious feelings. 

All their cemeteries are associated with these zoo- 
losic and ornithologic mounds. These works are ex- 
tremely rude as compared with those of the Mexi- 
can Indians, but perhaps the colonies were new, and 
either abandoned them or were driven off before they 
had become rich. The Mexicans had carved on their' 
temples, in stone, men, birds and beasts ; here are 
represented men, birds and beasts upon the ground. 

Mr. Lapham says, p. 36: 

" It will be remarked that in opening mounds and 
penetrating to the original deposits, but few imple. 
ments and ornaments of any kind are found. In this' 
respect the Wisconsin mound-builders differ from their 



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ANTIQUITY. 10 

successors, who are in tlie liabit of burying articles of 
supposed value and utility witli tlieir dead." On page 
45, while speaking of the Aztalan mounds, he says : 
^' The analogy between these elevations and the " tem- 
ple mounds " of Ohio and the Southern States, will at 
once strike the reader who has seen the plans and de- 
scriptions. They have the same square or regular 
forms, sloping or graded ascent, the terraced or step- 
like structure, and the same position in the interior of 
the enclosure. This kind of formation is known to 
increase in numbers and importance as we proceed to 
.the south and southwest, until they are represented by 
the great structures of the same general character on 
the plains of Mexico." 

I have never seen any works that seem to be of an 
offensive or defensive character. 

There is a passage in the observations of J. W. 
Bond, in his " History of Minnesota,^'' page 360, which 
indicates an opposition to my theory. He says : 

" The third species of elevations which I shall no' 
tice, have the form of embankments, rather than 
mounds. They are artificial, found usually in the river 
bottoms and low planting lands, and formed l^y carry- 
ing out, spring after spring, the corn roots and other 
trash off the fields, and piling them along the outer 
edge, or on the row between two fields. In many in- 
stances of j)atches that have been planted for ten or 
twenty years previous to the introduction of the plow, 
I have seen these embankments from two to three feet 
high, and of all conceivable shapes ; some rhomboidal, 
some liexao:onal, and some oval. I remember haviusj 
noticed them first many years ago, in Little Six, where, 



20- AXTIQUITT. 

I presume, they may still be traced, as I am not aware 
that those old fields, (which were on the opposite side- 
of the river, and about two miles below the site of the 
present village,) have ever been plowed. The thought 
has occurred to me, that perhaps some which have been 
regarded as Indian fortifications in other parts of the 
country, may have a similar origin." 

I do not wish to set up any antiquarian theory, and 
try very strenuously to defend it, without more read 
ing and observation ; but this quotation from Mr. 
Bond's history, I do not think is applicable to our 
mounds and tumuli, for many reasons before given, and 
others not herein given. 

With these observations, we dismiss the subject of 
the mounds. 

There are in this region, as well as the entire 
Northwest, numerous works that show great skill, and 
yet are not made by the hands of man. They are 
the works of the Beaver. When these animals are 
entirely destroyed, their works will remain for a long 
time to command our admiration. I have seen from 
five to ten dams, wdthin a space of half a mile, upon 
some small spring branch, and have often noticed 
where they have dammed quite large streams. It 
would seem as though the whole country had once 
been alive with them. 

A gentleman from Baraboo, in travelling through 
the northwestern portion of this State, came upon a 
fresh dam with an inhabited village in it. In relating 
what he had seen, he said : 

" I said, at once, they were poor dam builders, (this 



ANTIQUITY. Si 

gentleman liad built dams,) for instead of building 
their dam at right angles with and straight across from 
bank to bank, they constructed it in a waved line, ob. 
liquely up the stream. But upon inspecting it, I re- 
canted my opinion immediately. The philosophy that 
governed their action was too apparent — it was to 
make a long waste-ware, for they had holes cut through 
every few feet, to the water's edge, that the floods 
might pass through in a thin sheet upon the grass, thus 
doing less damage than it would if it passed off in a 
body. 

On a small stream emptpng into the dam, they had, 
as far up as a grove of aspens, (three-quarters of a 
mile,) made 'slack water navigation,' by building 
dams at the requisite distance apart, for the purpose of 
floating to their village their winter's supply of food. 
In this grove the trees, from six to sixteen inches in 
diameter, were felled, and cut up into pieces from four 
to six feet long, and floated to their village and sunk, 
and when the bark had become partially rotted, their 
food was ready. I concluded, even if I could converse 
with them I could give them no better knowledge than 
they possessed, at least of dam building. I left with 
great satisfaction, having learned much, wishing them 
a long and happy life." 



AMERICAN INDIANS. 



Tlie origin of tlie present American Indians lias iDeen 
a subject of niucli theorizing and speculation. I do 
not remember to liave read any that comes so directly 
home, as probable conjecture on this subject, as Joim 
Y. Smith's theory, contained in his address before the 
Wisconsion State Historical Society, delivered in Jan- 
uary, 1859. He recapitulates, on page 150: 

" Firsts That, with Earth and Man as they are, the 
dispersion- of the race over the whole world would in- 
evitably result from placing a single human pair upon 
the eastern continent. 

" Second^ That all the tribes of this continent are of 
Asiatic origin. 

" Tliird^ That they sprang from numerous small cen- 
tres, and that, with rare exceptions, those centres were 
placed upon the northwest coast. 

" Fourth^ That these original centres were derived 
partly from the accidental dispersion of population 
through the Aleutian and other islands of the Pacific, 
and partly from the extreme northeast of Asia, across 
Behring Straits. 

" Fifths That from these centres upon the northwest 
coast, the Indian tribes spread over the whole of North 
and South America. 

" Sixth, That the civilization of Mexico and Peru was 
introduced subse(piently to the first occupation of those 



AMEEICAN mDIANS. 23 

countries, tliG former by castaways more direct from 
the civilized regions of Asia, by Avay of tlie northwest 
coast, with rare instances of castaways from Europe, 
who mino-lecl their blood with the Asiatic stock, and 
slightly modified their manners and institutions ; and 
the latter by similar migrations from Asia alone, either 
through the north, or, more ^^I'obably, the south tem- 
perate regions of the Pacific. 

" Seventh^ That the means by which the various cen- 
tres of Indian population arrived upon this continent, 
as well as the incongruities observed in their ideas and 
institutions, while they unite in pointing to an Asiatic 
origin, indicate, no less distinctly, that all the Asiatic 
nations were represented in the formation of the In- 
dian race, and hence, that all attempts to trace them, 
as a whole, to any one of them, must prove abortive. 

'•'■ EigMli^ When we consider that as early as the time 
of Solomon, some of the Asiatic nations possessed suf- 
ficient knowledge of naval architecture and navigation 
to fit out ships for a three years' cruise, we cannot 
avoid the conclusion that many instances of castaways 
upon this continent must have occurred before popula- 
tion could have had time to extend itself to the ex- 
treme northeast of Asia and across Behring Straits, or 
by induction from island to island, across the Pacific to 
the American coast." 

It will not be compatible with my design to support 
these propositions by many or very lengthy quota- 
tions, but recommend aU who not already read it, to 
get and give it a careful perusal. 

" Montezuma told Cortez of a connection between 
the Aztec race and the nations of the old world. The 



2-i AMERICAN INDIAKS-. 

general facts of their foreign origin, tlieir migration 
by water, and subsequent journey ings southward along 
the shores of the Pacific, are well established by their 
pictorial writings and charts, which, by the aid of 
Aztec instructors, the Spanish conquerors learned to 
decipher. The Aztecs also kept chronological records 
by tying sticks in bundles, by cycles, and by these it 
has been ascertained, with a reasonable degree of cer- 
tainty, that they landed on the continent between the 
years 1038 and 1064. But the Aztec were by no 
means the original inhabitants, and hence have been 
denied the title of Aboi'igines. They w^ere preceded 
by the Toltecs, and they by the Olmecs, the farthest 
glimmerings of whose history come dow^n to us, almost 
from the commencement of the Christian era." — Na- 
tional and Tribal History. 

" The tradition of the appearance, from time to time, 
of remarkable personages, so different in appearance, 
and so superior in knowledge to the races among whom 
their lot was cast, should not be regarded as mere Indi- 
an myths. 

" The discovery has been made, in one of the cen- 
tral counties of this State, of an image, carved in mar- 
ble, found in the earth, about a foot below the surface. 
The head was broken off, but otherwise the relic was 
perfect. It was presented to the State Historical So- 
ciety by Hon. Levi Hubbell, and may be seen in the 
Society's rooms." " Prof. J. M. Jamison, of Carroll 
College, formerly a Missionary, pronounces it an image 
Budh, which the Budhists of China and Burmah, and 
the Jain sect of India w^orship." 

There is deposited in the Sauk County Cabinet, at 



AMEEICAN INDIANS. 35 

Baraboo, a relic wliicli I should tliink might be here 
described as additional proof on this subject. It was 
deposited by Tylee F. Ayees, and was found by him 
when a boy, in his father's garden, town of Peru, Clin- 
ton county, New York. It is a small female figure, in 
a sitting posture, upon a glol^e of six inches diameter. 
The globe was broken, and it is now placed upon a 
wooden one of the same diameter, as a substitute. It 
is afac-simile, or nearly so, of one found in Michigan, and 
described in the Genesee Farmer^ of 1837, as follows : 
" We have now before us a very curious and inter- 
esting specimen of ancient art, presented to us by a 
friend, the work, probably, of a people who inhabited 
this country previous to the present race of aborigines; 
for it displays a perfection in the arts far surpassing 
the rude state in which they at present exist among 
this people. 

This relic was found in Michigan, in one of those 
ancient fortifications which are scattered over our coun- 
try. It is a piece of sculpture, the material of which 
resembles, somewhat, black slate, but is as hard as 
flint. A knife will make no impression upon it. It 
evidently must have been carved when in a softer state 
than the present. It was, probably^ formed of some 
earthy material into proper consistence to be cut, and 
then hardened by baking. 

" The figure is that of a female, sitting on the 
ground, in an attitude and aii' of sadness and despon. 
dency, leaning her head upon the back of her left 
hand, the elbow resting upon a small vessel in the 
form of a cask ; the right hand resting on the knee, 
and holding something which appears to have engrav- 



2G AJIERICAN INDIANA. 

ed on it some written characters, but T^^liicli are toa 
small and indistinct to enable us to discern tbeir form. 
Over tlie bead is thrown a loose drapery, falling down 
upon the shoulders and back, leaving the left arm, 
on which she reclines, and the left breast, naked, but 
folding across, in gracefid folds, over the right arm and 
breast, and covering the front part of the figure. On 
the fore part of the head, which is not covered by the 
drapery, the hair is gracefully parted, and a portion of 
it hangs down in tresses upon the left breast. The 
little cask on which she leans, shows the staves in reg- 
ular order, with three hoops at the top, and two at the 
bottom. The head of the cask comes up even Mvith 
the chime, and seems to be formed of narrow strips, 
like the staves ; on the fore part of the cask there ap- 
pears to have been something attached like a handle, 
but of what form is not distinguishable, as a portion 
of the front part of the figure is broken off. Around 
the cask lengthwise, over the hoops, passes something 
like a band, which was designed, perhaps, for the pur- 
pose of carrying it. From the size of the vessel, com- 
jpa/red with that of the figure, we should judge its use 
was to carry water. 

Every part of the figure and its appendages is very 
distinct, and the sculpture admirably performed, and 
yet the whole height, by exact measurement, is but 
one inch and one eigldJi. The head, which displays 
very perfectly the features, and even a countenance 
indicative of wo, is not larger than a good sized pea. 
What this tiny figure was meant to represent, when 
was the age in which it was made, and who were the 
peoj)le whose ingenious artists could produce such 



AMERICAN INDIANS. 27 

works, are interesting inquiries, but will probably 
never be satisfactorally answered." 

" Col. Charles Hamilton Smith, of Edinburgh, in 
liis treatise on tlie Natural History of the Human 
Species, suggests that tlie Cliicliemecs were from tlie 
Aleutian Islands — understanding tlie word caves as a 
figure, denoting vessels or canoes. Mr. Schoolcraet 
addressed a letter to Lieutenant Maury, asking liis 
opinion on tliis point, and several others relative to 
the navigation of the Pacific and Polynesian waters by 
means of the rude vessels of early ages. In his reply, 
to which we have before alluded, this scientific navi- 
gator says : 

" At page 261, the Colonel had a stronger case than 
he supposed. The Aleutians of the present day act- 
ually live in caves or subterranean apartments, which 
they enter through a hole in the top. They are the 
most bestial of the species." 

" You wish me to state whether, in my opinion, the 
Pacific and Polynesian waters could have been navi- 
gated in early times, supposing the mnds to have been 
as they now are, in balsas, floats, and other rude ves- 
sels of the early ages ? 

" Yes ; if you had a supply of provisions, you could 
run down the trades in the Pacific on a log. There is 
no part of the world where nature would tempt sav- 
age men more strongly to launch out upon the open 
sea, with his bark, however frail. 

" Most of the islands are surrounded by coral reefs, 
between which and the shore the water is as smooth 
as a mill-pond. The climate and the fish invite the sav- 
age into the water ; and the mountains which separate 



28 AMERICAN INDIANS. 

valley from vnlley, make it more easy for the natives 
to go from valley to valley by water tliau by land ; 
for the scorise upon the mountains, with the bramble by 
the way, offer barriers to those naked people which are 
almost impassable. On the other hand, there is the 
refreshing water, the smooth bay, the floating log, or 
even the unhusked cocoa-nut to buoy him along. I have 
seen children there, not more than three years old, 
swimming off to the shij:* with nothing but a cocoa- 
nut to hold by. This voyage accomplished, (from one 
part of an island to another), there is the island in the 
distance to attract and allure ; and the next step would 
be — if we imagine an infant colony on an island of a 
group — to fit out an expedition to some of those to 
leeward. The native then finds a hollow log split in 
two. Like children here, he has dammed up his little 
mountain streamlet with a dam of clay across. He 
does the same vdth his trough, kneeding the clay and 
making a dam with it across either end. He puts in a 
few cocoa-nuts, a calabash of water, breaks a green 
branch thick with foliage, sticks it up for a sail, and 
away he goes before the wind, at the rate of three or 
four miles an hour. I have seen them actually do this. 
* ''' * * But by some mishap, in the 
course of time, his frail bark misses the island or falls 
to leeward ; the only chance then is to submit to the 
winds and waves, and go where they will bear." 

'^ Lieutenant MArRY then remarks that the Pacific 
Islander very soon gets above the use of such rude con- 
trivances, and describes their method of constructing 
canoes that will carry twenty persons, or more. 

" The foregoing remarks of Lieutenant Maury ap- 



AMERICAN INDIANS. ^9 

pear to relate particularly to tlie islands in warmer 
latitudes of tlie Pacific ; but by similar means the 
Aleutian chain, partly by accident and partly by de- 
sign, would inevitably be reached, one after another, 
by people from the northeast of Asia, till the whole 
chain would be traversed, and the continent at length 
reached. Thus the Aleutian chain may have furnish- 
ed numerous centres of population on the continent — ■ 
not immediately Asiatic, but of Asiatic origin, and 
having become thoroughly savage in the long period 
of many generations required for their dispersion 
through the whole chain of the American coast, and 
the winds and currents forbidding all return, by any 
process known to them, it is not strange that the exis- 
tence of this continent should have remained unknown 
to the civilized countries of Asia, from which they 
may have originated. 

" Another natural channel of migration from the 
rude tribes of the extreme northeast of Asia, is Behr- 
ing Straits. Some writers have regarded this as tJie 
point from which the entire American population was 
derived, and have looked no further. That it was 
one of the routes by which the Indian fathers reached 
the continent, these can no longer exist a reasonable 
doubt. Lieutenant Maukt, in the letter before 
quoted, says: 

" ' Captain Eay, of the whale ship Superior, fished 
two years ago (1848) in Behring Straits, and saw ca- 
noes going from one continent to the other.' 

" If this was done in 1848, it may have been done 
in 148 as well. But it would not naturally take place 
until population had been pushed to the extreme north- 



30 AMERICAN INDIANS. 

east of Asia. Migration by tliis route, was, most ]3rob- 
ably, first by accident, and afterwards by design ; and 
yet, tlie barbarous people having no conceptions of the 
nature of their discovery, or that they had discovered 
a new continent at all, the knowledge of it would not 
be likely to find its way back through the intervening 
barbarous hordes, to the civilized portions of Asia. 
But to conclude that this is the only route by which 
Asiatics could have reached the continent, would be as 
unphilosophical as it is inconsistent with well known 
facts. It was, doubtless, one, and only one, of several 
ways by which the American continent was furnished 
with its numerous centres of population." 

We will content ourselves with these few extracts 
from Hon. John Y. Smitti's relative to the origin from 
Avhich our aborigines came, and compile a few extracts 
of history relative to the occupants after the white 
man knew them. 

Rev. Alfeed Beunson, formerly Indian Agent, in 
his article in tlie fourth volume of the Wisconsin State 
Historical Society's Collections^ says : 

"The earliest inhabitants of the territory now 
included within this State, of whom we have any 
positive knowledge, were the ancestors of the present 
Indians of this vicinity ; and from the best light I 
have been able to ascertain upon the subject from In- 
dian traditions and the earliest history of the country, 
the Dacotahs, or Sioux, were the occupants and own- 
ers of the soil of what is now our entire State, to- 
gether with Minnesota and the northern parts of Iowa 
and Illinois. This occupancy we can trace back for 
about two hundred and fifty years. 



AMERICAN nNTDIAISrS. '3l 

" Among the most prominent, and, indeed, tlie sec- 
ond in importance of antiquity of the Indians found 
in what is now Wisconsin, were the Chippewas, the 
chief or principal nation of the Algonquin or Algic 
race. Their proper name is Ojibewa. Their orig- 
inal location was Canada, over the entire region of 
which they seem to have spread their cohorts, totems, 
conquests and villages. It is said by some that they 
came from the west, down the north side of the great 
Lakes and drove the occupants of Canada south of the 
St. Lawi'ence river. At what period they commenced 
to encroach upon the territory of the Dacotahs, is not 
known to history, but it appears to have been as early 
as the year 1600 of the Christian era. 

" They traveled mostly in canoes, following the lakes, 
straits and rivers, making portages where their course 
was obstructed by falls, and across the intervening 
lands between lakes and water courses. They first 
crossed the straits at St. Mary and Mackinaw, and then 
worked their way south by slow degrees, having to 
contend with the Sioux at every advanced step. They 
worked their way to Green Bay, and even south of it, 
and to La Pointe, and the head waters of the St. Croix, 
Chippewa, and "Wisconsin rivers, prior to 1668, but 
were driven all back as far as St. Mary's in 1670, and 
hence, as Shea says, our northeastern b)order and 
northwestern Michigan was the area of the first meet- 
ing of the Algic and Dacotah races. Here clans of 
l)oth their wide spread families met and mingled at a 
very early period ; here they first met in battle, and 
mutually checked each other's advance. 

" The chief or principal Algic family, are the 



32 AMERICAN INDIANS. 

Ojibewas. The Algic family made a firm stand in 
Wisconsin not much before 1726. 

" The Sacs and Foxes probably left the Wisconsin 
river in 1766, and commenced their settlement at 
Rock Island. Their alliance was in 1760 or 1761, by 
some authorities, and as early as 1686 by others. 
The confederated tribe was diiven from Green Bay up 
Fox river, and from thence to the Wisconsin and Mis- 
sissippi. Carver found them, the Sacs at Sauk 
Praii'ie, the Foxes at Prairie du Chien, in 1766, five or 
six years after the formation of the alliance. The 
Sacs are also known as the Sauk or Saukees. 

" The next tribe in point of importance in early oc- 
cupancy of our State, was the Winnebagos. But 
there is so much discrepancy in dates on the origin 
and numerical strength of this tribe, that, if I had not 
seen them myself, I should almost doubt their exis- 
tence. One thing, I think, is well settled, and that 
is, they are not of the Algic race. Some of Siiea's 
authorities found them at Green Bay as early as 1639. 
Winnebago is the name given them by the Algic or 
Algonquins, which means ' fetid.' It was because 
they were said to have come from the salt water, which 
the Indians style fetid water. This name, however, is 
corrupted. Weene means filthy, or fetid, he, water, go^ 
gives its character. Weene-le-go is the name of the 
water in a marsh that is scented or filthy, and the 
Algic race gave this people this name because they 
were said to have come from the salt water, or marsh- 
es. They called them a Dacotah tribe, probably, be- 
cause they were at peace with the Dacotahs ; but, as 
there is no analogy between their languages, there is 



AMERICAN IKDIAI^S. 83 

no probability of sucli relationship between them. 

" The Winnebagos caJled themselves Ot-cJia-gras. 

" The Winnebagos, ever since their ingress into this 
country, have been a despised people by the Indian 
races and whites, their character being sly, under- 
handed, treacherous and cowardly." 

" The same author says : ' The eastern portion of 
what is now Wisconsin being the common battle 
ground between the Dacotahs (Sioux) and Algic races, 
it is probable that the former, as an act of kindness 
to a wandering, homeless people, and as a matter of 
policy on their part, gave the Winnebagos the country 
between them and their enemies.' He says there is 
* strong reason to believe that they were driven from 
Mexico upon the approach of the Spaniards. They 
were found in the neighborhood of Green Bay about 
the year 1630.' 

"When Caevee visited the Winnebagos, in 17G6, 
they had left Green Bay, and were residing on Fox 
river and the lake which bears their name, and after 
the Sauk and Foxes had left the Wisconsin river, the 
Winnebagos occupied that region, w^here the present 
white population found them, and whence they were 
removed when taken from the State to Iowa." 

" JoiEsr Metcalf, w^ho now resides at Upper Mills, 
Baraboo, and has been acquainted with the Winnebagos 
from before the Black Hawk war, at Helena, says, 
from inquiries frequently made, he learned that they 
came from the south — below the Missouri river ; 
that they obtained the privilege from the Sacs and 
Foxes to locate upon the Wisconsin river for a few 
years only, until they could recruit, as they had 



84 AMERICAN IXD1A^"S. 

become reduced by wars. When they were well 
rested and strong, they claimed the country by 
might." 

Relative to their disposing of these lands and their 
removal, an article published in the Sauh County 
Standard^ December 19th, 1850, says, in describing 
the Baraboo Valley : 

" For at least many years before their removal, the 
Winnebagos made choice of this valley for their home. 
Here, within a distance of three miles, were their vil- 
lages, four in number, and there, near our village, was 
their council house. On these rapids were their fishe- 
ries, from which they obtained some of their supplies. 
There, on the south side of the river, only a league 
distant, were their sugar camps — groves composed 
almost entirely of the sugar maple. I never beheld 
handsomer. They are nearly girdled down by their 
frequent tappings. Those small prairies and frequent 
thickets on the north side of the river, made fine 
haunts and green pastures for deer and small game, as 
well as the lordly elk. On the range of bluffs, be- 
tween this place and the Wisconsin river on the south, 
on those heavy oak ridges, are fields well calculated 
for the bear. Was there ever a country better calcu- 
lated for the Indian to enjoy his life according to his 
own peculiar nature and habits ? But alas ! that 
fell destroyer of his social and religious happiness, as 
well as his moral being — Civilization — a word that 
comes to his understanding as — do ye to others what 
you can that is bad, and do ye not unto others any 
good acts which you would have done to yourselves. 
The crafty white man held out the bait, the trappings 
-of his art, and their gaudy show dazzled the judgment 
of a majority of their rulers, for which they sold their 
bii'thright and the bones of their fathers, to their su- 
perior and much civilized white brethren. At this 
move the tribe in general, together with one of their 



AMERICAN INDIANS. 35 

cliiefs, (Dandy,) remonstrated. He would not sign 
the treaty, and objected to leaving tlie country, but 
was, with the rest of the tribe, forced to leave for 
their new homes west of the Father of Waters, and 
several hundred miles north of their present location. 
He, with his adherents, returned, and were, by the 
United. States dragoons, hunted up and again remo- 
ved ; but they again returned, ajid for the last year 
have been upon the border of our settlement, doing no 
one any harm except in the imagination of some soft- 
brained men, who sometimes succeed in getting the 
women a little excited. 

"After the "Winnebago treaty was ratified, those 
wayward and resistless pioneers, waiting to have a new 
field opened for their enterprise, immediately took 
possession of their cornfields and gardens. This very 
much annoyed the Indians, and, to use the words of 
one of those pioneers as related to the writer, ' they 
would make up all kinds of faces, and call me all the 
hard names they could think of — blackguard and 
make sport of me, and even threatened to kill me, and 
I thought sometimes they would ; but I told them they 
dare not injure me, or any thing I had; if they did, 
every Indian of the tribe would be hung." This man 
could speak their language with as much fluency as 
his own, and therefore understood all they had to say 
to him perfectly well. It is a saying that 'men 
brought up in the woods are not to be frightened by 
owls,' and I would say of these early settlers, by Indi- 
ans, either. 

" The time fixed upon for their removal, was the 
12th day of May, 1849 — a day that wiU long be re- 
membered by the Winnebagos, the real test to their 
feelings not having come till then. To leave the graves 
of their friends, (which, to an Indian, is no light mat- 
ter,) the haunts of their younger days, a country 
to which they might well have become attached — all 
these things were brought fresh to their minds on the 



36 AMERICAN INDIANS. 

morning of the 1 2th, by the United States dragoons 
being present to assist in their removal ; and, said an 
eye witness, their lamentations and cries were heard 
yet while out of sight ;' and, said the same person, 
' there was not a member of their tribe, save some of 
their chiefs, who would not have given all they pos- 
sessed to have the bargain made by them recanted. 
But our Christian m-ode of making treaties with the 
Indians is to get some kind of a bargain with some or 
all their chiefs, and then show them the sword and a 
map of the country west of the Mississippi, and the 
Indians have learned to understand the rest," 

The Hon. Heney S. Baird, in his Recollections of 
tJie Early History of Northern Wisconsin, says : 

" For many years prior to 1824, the northern por- 
tion of Wisconsin was occupied by the Winnebagos, 
Menominees, Chippewas, and some Pottawatamies. 
The two first named tribes owned nearly all the coun- 
try in the present State, lying on Lake Michigan- and 
the Mississippi, Wisconsin, Fox and Wolf rivers, 
The Winnebao^os on the west side of Winnebas-o 
Lake, ana the Upper Fox and the Wisconsin Rivers, 
The Menomonees on the east side of the Lake, Fox 
and Wolf rivers. Green Bay and the west shore of 
Lake Michigan. Both of these tribes were then pow- 
erful, and held in great awe by the few white inhabit- 
ants then in this country. The Winnebagos, in 1824, 
numbered, perhaps, upwards of six thousand. The 
Menomonees between three and four thousand. Their 
character and habits differ very essentially. The for- 
mer tribe, although they could scarcely be called 
either brave or warlike, were yet worse — they were 
cruel and treacherous; and would much rather dis- 
patch an enemy in secret ambush, than face him in 
fair and equal combat. They were friendly to the 
British, ancl for many years were their pensioners, go- 
ing openly every year to Canada to receive their pres- 



AMEinCAN INDIANS. 37 

ents from tlie Britisli Government. Tliey liated tlie 
Americans, and in tlie war of 1812, espoused the cause of 
the former, and proved the most sanguinary foes of the 
United States troops in the battles of the Thames and 
River Raisin, and in the massacres at Mackinaw, Chi- 
cago, and other places. Even in later years, they 
viewed the citizens with suspicion, and kept them in 
constant fear ; and it is well known that they not only 
instigated the Sacs and Foxes, in the Black Hawk 
war, to commence hostilities, but participated in their 
battles. But these were not the worst features in the 
character of the tribe. They possessed vices of a 
more mean and groveling nature — they united the 
art of stealing to that of lying. If they could catch 
the traveler's horse, or lay hands upon any of his bag- 
gage or property, it was appropriated at once to their 
own use. It would seem that they even trained their 
miserable dogs to steal, as I experienced on more occa- 
sions than one, when the whelps eat the strips of raw 
hide attached to the oars of the boat or canoe, while 
encamped at night near one of their villages. Their 
lying propensities were proverbial, and if the traveler 
ever made inquiry of any of their tribe for informa- 
tion about his route or about the country, he could only 
be sure of being right by acting contrary to their 
suggestions and answers. 

" Far different were the characters and habits of the 
Menomonees. As a tribe, they practiced neither of 
the low vices of thieving or lying. Unlike their 
neighbors, whose characters I have just portrayed, 
they were neither treacherous nor belligerent. Always 
friendly to the whites, they gained the friendship and 
confidence of the latter. It is true, that during the 
war of 1812, this tribe, togetlier with all the northern 
and western tribes, joined the British, and fought 
under their standard ; but this must be attributed to 
the fact that the whole of this northwest w^as, at that 
period, in subjection to that power, rather than the 



38 AMERICAN INDIANS. 

inclination of the Menomonees, wlio were induced to 
believe tliat the Government of the United States was 
entirely unable to keep possession of the country, and 
protect the Indians in their rights." 

I find, in J. Wesley Bond's History of Minnesota, 
page 211, a few items relative to the Winnebagos, 
which must be particularly interesting to us who live 
upon lands bought of them, and upon their village 
sites, where their " fires are hardly yet extinguished." 

"The Winnebago Agency is located about forty 
miles back from the Mississippi river, on Long Prairie 
river, about 140 miles north from St. Paul. Long 
Prairie is about sixteen miles long, and, on an ave- 
rage, one and a half miles wide, stretching from the 
northeast to the southwest, and from the high and cen- 
tral location of the Agency buildings lying around it, 
presents a highly picturesque and agreeable view. This 
tribe numbers about 2,500 souls. The first recorded 
treaty by the United States with this tribe, was made 
in 1816. They were again included in a treaty 
made at Prairie du Chien in 1825; and at the same 
place, in the year 1829, another treaty was made with 
them by which they received $30,000 in goods, and 
$18,000 annuity for thirty years, and 3,000 pounds of 
tobacco and 50 barrels of salt, annually, for the same 
period. And again, they treated in 1832, with an 
annuity of $10,000 for twenty-seven years, with a stip- 
ulation to establish a boarding school for them at 
Praire du Chien, for the same period, at an annual cost 
of $3,000, and $3,700 more, annually, for farmers, 
blacksmiths, physicians, <fec. They also made a treaty 
at AVashington, in the year 1837, by which they sold 
^11 their lands east of the Mississippi. 



AMERICAIS^ I^'DIANS. 39 

Under this latter treaty, the Government paid $200,- 
000 in liquidation of their debts; $100,000 to their 
relatives of mixed blood ; expended $7,000 for their 
removal west ; gave them $50,000 in horses and goods, 
and paid for provisions, erecting a grist mill, breaking 
and fencing grounds, and incidental expenses, the sum 
of $43,000. It was also agreed to pay them, annually, 
for twenty-two years, $10,000 in provisions, $20,000 
in goods, $20,000 in money, and $5,000 to be devoted 
to education, agriculture, <fec. They made a treaty at 
Washington City, in 1846, by which they agreed to 
move to the Upper Mississippi, and which they did in 
1848. In this last treaty, they disposed of all their ^ 
interest or claim in any lands whatever, on condition 
that the United States should give to them ' a tract of 
■country north of the Minnesota and west of the Mis- 
sissippi river, of not less than 800,000 acres, and pay 
them $190,000 for the following purposes, to wit : To 
liquidate their debts, for their removal and subsistence, 
for breaking and fencing lands at their new home, and 
including $10,000 of it for manual labor schools, and 
$5,000 for grist and saw mills. The balance, bein'g 
$85,000, is to remain in trust with the United States 
at five per centum, for thirty years, and the interest 
thereon is to be paid to the tribe yearly.' 

"The Winnebaa;o schools are now under the direc- 
tion of Roman Catholic missionaries. 

"It is a lamentable fact that the educated of this 
tribe are the most worthless, which clearly shows that 
they should first be taught to labor and acquire prop- 
erty, after which they will see not only the use, but 
the necessity, of becoming educated. 



40 AMERICAN IXDIA^VTS. 

" It is to l)e lioped tliat they may yet become a civ-^ 
ilizecl people. They raised, last year, on Long Prairie, 
the following quantities of produce: 

Corn, 300 acres, 12, 000 bushels. I Turnips, .. 50 acres, 10,000 bushels. 

Potatoes,. oO " 10,0(»0 " Oats 40 " 4,000 " 

Wheat,.. 10 " 300 " I Garden vegetables, 10 acres. 

" On the Mississipj)i : 

Corn, 100 acres, 2,000 bushels. ] Turnips,. . 80 acres, 8, 000 bushels 

Potatoes,. 10 " 1,000 " | 

" The crops at this Agency are unusually good, and 
the Indians cannot want for food. They have assisted 
in plowing, ]3lanting, and harvesting. Those that have 
horses, put up hay enough to keep them through the 
winter. I find that they are not only disposed, but 
anxious to work ; and many of them will do as much 
work in a day, as a lal)oring man among the whites." 

The United States will have paid the Winnebagos, 
in the space of thirty years, nearly two and a half 
inillions of dollars, or an average of nearly one Jiun^ 
dred dollars per head. 

There are marks of Indian corn fields in almost 
every part of the county, the most extensive of which 
a? e at the Sauk villages. There are here, in one body, 
some five hundred to one thousand acres that were the 
fields of the Sauk and Foxes. Their fields were beau- 
tifully located, as are the 2:)resent white people's villa^- 
ges upon them* 



SECOND SKETCH. 



The first Sketch was devoted to the chronology of 
men who liave inhabited the soil of Sauk County in 
periods of time far back. 

We shall not in the subsequent Sketches follow a 
chronological order particularly, or make an attempt 
to follow closely any system or order. There will un- 
doubtedly be matter considered that might have been 
left out, and that left out which ousrht to have been 
considered. There must in the very nature of things, be 
errors committed and blunders made. 

We shall consider our descriptions, first — topograph- 
ically, then chorographically, i. e., particular descrip- 
tions of the County in sketches, and then as a whole. 

The natural topography of a country is divided into 
basins, tables, hills, mountains, blufl:s, (a Western 
term,) ledges, precipices, ct;c., forming the contour; and 

A NEW ANTIQUARIAN OBSERVATION. 



Since the first Sketcb of " Outline Sketches of Sauk County" was issued, Axdrew 
HoDGETT, of Kingston, has shown me a stone 6 by 6 inches at one end, and four \}j 
8 inches near the other. This end is brought by a short bevil on its four sides near- 
ly to a point. It is (i feet long, and is a straight, handsome rectangled stone from 
the quartzite rock of the Baraboo Blutfs. It was taken from the breast oi'an animal 
shaped mound, and would seem to have been placed there at its erection. It stood 
nearly in a perpendicular position, inclining a litt'e to the South-west. The broad- 
est end, which was pointed, stood about upon the original surface of the ground, and 
the other end was exposed above the mound about a foot. Me. H. has it lying by hia 
door yard gate for the inspection of the curious. 

Query. — Was this stone placed there as a grave-stone by those ancient mound 
building oeople? Was it purposely inclined Sonth-westwardly in the same direction 
that most of the animal shaped mounds are headed? It is located on the N. E. quar- 
ter of the S. E. quarter of Section 4, Town 10, North, Range 6, East. 



43 gECOND 8KETCH- 

into water-courses and stationary bodies of water, — tlie 
arterial ; vegetation, the botany ; the material of all 
earthy substance, its mineralogy, and the classification 
of its rocks its geology. 

The association being different in different places — - 
ever varied and varying, makes this handy-work of na- 
ture the most interesting of studies, and its topogra 
phy a colossal subject to handle, even by the most learn- 
ed ; yet there can be a few abstractions made that all 
can understand. 

That portion of Sauk County first occupied by white 
men should be called the Sauk Prairie Basin. It ex- 
tends from the East side of the County, at the Colum- 
bia County line to the mouth of Honey Creek, and 
lies upon the Wisconsin River, extending back to the 
Baraboo Bluffs, an average width of about three miles 
by twenty in length. Like other portions of country, 
it has a complexion and physiognomy (so to speak,) 
peculiar to itself. There is, however, near the Eastern 
end a creek crossing it, having its source near the Lake 
of the Bluffs, and is supposed to carry off the surplus 
water of that Lake by an underground passage which 
breaks out in large springs about two miles distant 
from it. This is a small creek discharging at its mouth 
about 50 to 75 inches of water. The water is very 
pure and I believe quite soft. It has not much of a 
valley or basin, and does not change the general char- 
acter of the Sauk Prairie basin above described. 

This basin of country is supplied with many excell- 
ent natural elements. The Baraboo bluffs on the north. 
ern side aftbrd numerous springs and rivulets of soft 
water, and are timbered with a growth of large white 



BECO]?vD SKETCH iZ 

f)ak (but already most of it is in the shape of fences, 
buildings, cfec, in this basin belov/). Upon the South 
and East side of it, it is not only watered by the Wis- 
consin River, but reaps a benefit by its being a navi- 
gable stream. At the upper end and next to the bluffs, 
clay is the jDredominating soil, particularly so, next to 
the bluffs. At the lower end and near the Honey 
Creek valley, sand predominates, and the soil is less 
productive. There is about two square miles here that 
the soil is poor, but the conditions for improving it are 
complete ; it being in the vicinity of the towns, where 
manures are plenty; and owned in small tracts, and al- 
so near the hay marshes of Honey Creek, makes its 
renovation more easy and sure than if located at a more 
distant part. 

Most of this basin is gently undulating except the 
lower end, which is quite level. The upper end is tim- 
bered with white, black, and burr oak. Sauk Prairie 
occupies most of the lower end, but for half a mile from 
the river, and also from Honey Creek marshes, it is 
timbered with bur]- and black oak. 

There are no valuable minerals within this basin^ 
although lime is procured from the bluffs adjoining. 
These bluffs back from Sauk Village furnish a superior 
building stone from their cap, which is a calciferous 
magnesian lime rock, lying in strata from 4 to 8 inches 
thick. They have a yellow tinge, some quite a cream 
color, others lighter (all from the same quari-ies,) and 
when artistically arranged in the front of buildings and 
stuccoed between the joints, make a pleasant appear- 
ance. There are many handsome buildings already 
fcailt of it in this valle^'. The stone dresses easily, the 



44 SECOND SKETCH. 

face scarcely needing tlie cliisel applied at all, and 
"breaking very square and nice. These quarries are an 
immense source of wealth to this region, as from the 
ease of procuring and using the stone, it must ever 
form almost the entire building material. 

Its geology consists of Potsdam sand stone as the un- 
lying rock, covered to a great depth with drift sand, 
pebbles and boulders. I am not aware that it has been 
struck by digging Avells, although shafts have been sunk 
to the depth of a hundred feet and over. There is no 
rock in place within the basin. From the bluiis there 
crops out this sand rock capped with the lower magne- 
sian lime rock, quartzite slate and talcose slate. (The 
quartzite slate &c. will be more particularly described 
in another sketch, as it does not belong to this basin.) 

Sauk Prairie occupies about twenty -two of the sixty 
square miles which the basin contains. It has two 
square miles of poor soil, and about three or four more 
that- pays but a small profit for cultivation ; the remain- 
ing eighteen are of excellent soil, being second to but 
little in the State. The aspect and scenery are beauti- 
ful. There are many points where fine views can be 
]iad, but none hardly ecjual to that from Prospect Hill, 
on the opposite side of the river from Upper Sauk Vil- 
lage. From here can be seen much of the artificial as 
well as natural topography of the neighborhood. 

The Kee-lio-m-ra., the Indian name for the AYiscon- 
sin river, and signifying in their language, " River of 
flowery banks," AA'hich is about \ of a mile in AA'idth at 
this place, flows at }our feet, fading away among the 
many islands in the distance, both up and doAvn the 
stream, with se\'eral T>oints of bold and })ald blufi^* look- 



SECOXD SKETCH. 45 

ing down into tlie valley, and sometimes into tlie river. 
The fall of the river from Portage to its mouth, is 2^ 
feet per mile, while that of the Mississipj)! is "but Cl- 
inches per mile from the mouth of the Ohio to St. Paul, 
including its two rapids. (Geological report of Iowa.) 
But in comparing this and other branches with the 
" Father of waters," we must consider that the Missis- 
sippi is at the bottom of the great basin, and that its 
supplies fall from the water sheds into it as rivulets run 
from the liill sides into the creek. But I believe that 
this stream is the most rapid of any of its brandies. 
In front of you is a lovely prairie, richly wooded about, 
and imbossed upon its distant edge by the Baraboo 
blufts. Upon your left, and partly behind you, the 
bluff sides are profitably cultivated to the grape. One 
vineyard, that of Mr. Keiil, will make this season 20 
barrels of wine, besides selling a large quantity of the 
fruit. This is the largest plantation, but Me. HufiLEY 
is the pioneer grape man. In this vicinity there are 
several quite extensive vineyards. Upon the river you 
see steamboats, and see it spanned by two bridges, one 
at each town. Where but 23 years ago, the Indians 
were lords of the soil, there are within the town of 
Prairie du Sac, on an area of 31 square miles, all with- 
in sight, 380 dwellings and 1,900 inhabitants. Upon 
this prairie, then, so beautifully clothed in myriads of 
flowers of every shape, shade and color,* and the luxu. 
riant grasses,— you see a plaid work of farms striped by 
roads and dotted with buildings. The high chimneys 
indicating steam propelled machinery ; you see in each 



* " Not less thuu SOO sp('cios."--T. J. IUi.b. 



46 SECOND SKETCH. 

village steamboats lying upon the river and people mov- 
ing in all directions. To the South-west of you, at the 
lower end of the prairie, and 1-i miles from the mouth 
of Honey Creek, you see a prominent point of bluft'that 
forms a land mark of the country. At its base the 
creek is dammed. At the East of the dam the fine 
flouring mill of Messrs. Merkihe w, Eowell & Co. stands. 
It is 32 by 50 feet, is built of themagnesian lime stone 
from the top of this bluff, and has four run of stone at 
present. There is also a shed built for feeding teams 
in, which is the first appendage of the kind in the 
County. In 1859 the flour made at this mill took the 
first premium at the State Agricultural Fair. The 
creek here furnishes about 1,000 inches of water— cal- 
culated on the edge of the dam. At the West end of 
the dam stands the old mill, now used for chopping and 
coarse grinding. Hufus Meeeiiiew is now the active 
man of the firm, and a man who prides himself much 
in the milling business. Here was the first dam Ijuilt 
in the County. Robeet Bryant built it in 1841 and 
got his saw mill running in 1842, but it never did 
much business. He sold to II. B. Staines who put into 
operation a pair of 28 inch burr stones and a shaking 
bolt. This bolt was some two feet wide and eight feet 
long, placed in an inclined position — the ground wheat 
falling on the upper end, and the bran running ofl' at 
the lower end. This mill was a little improvement on 
" Uncle Bill's" — Wm. Johnson's — bis; coftee mill. But 
we would sometimes have to wait a day or two before 
getting our small grist, and tend mill ourselves. It re- 
(piired more than common honesty to toll our own grist. 
iSTAiNEs sold to Mix, who put up a respectable building 




mut 
torn 

OOD- 

ing, 

! al- 
!om- 
our- 

201 

sur- 

re- 

5TE- 

eas- 
., to 

tes, 
iiip- 
orn 
the 

eat, 
% of 
red 
'om 
; of 
s of 

) 
ine 

nty 



6SC0ND SKETCH. if 

and put to work two pair of 30 incli burrs with smut 
mill and other usual fixtures appertaining to a custom 
mill. Wilson was the next proj^rietor, J. K. Wood- 
ruff next, Hexry Rowell next, then Merrihew & 
Eowell, who built the new mill shown in the engravings 
and lastly its present firm. 

From the favorable locality of this mill, it has al- 
ways all the custom work it can do. Since the com- 
pletion of the new mill it has done a good deal of flour- 
ins;. 

Of the 31 miles (19,840 acres) area of this town, 5,201 
acres are under cultivation or nearly one-fourth its sur- 
face. (In quoting from the United States census re- 
port of the Southern Assembly District, made by Ste- 
phen B, DiLLEY, Deputy Marshal, it must be a pleas- 
ure to all to learn that he did his work of taking it, to 
the letter of the law.) 

Of the population 687 are from the German States, 
75 from other foreign countries, 82 from New Hamp- 
shire, 79 from Vermont, 116 from New York, 352 born 
in Wisconsin and the remainder divided among the 
other States of the Union, 

There were grown in 1859, 23,764 bushels of wheat, 
18,085 bushels of Indian corn and. 15,618 bushels* of 
oats. The next year, which will long be remembered 
for the abundance of our crops, there were raised from 
nearly the same number of acres, 50,109 bushels of 
wheat, 30,882 bushels of corn, and 23,663 bushels of 
oats. (See Town Assessor's agricultural statistics.) 

There were produced in this town 107 gallons of wine 
in 1859, which is more than all the rest of the County 
has produced. 



48 PECONl) SKETCH. 

The tliree Villages of this town are very pleasantly 
Jocated upon the Wisconsin river, and are within two 
miles 11]) and down the river, and at some future day- 
will be united into one town. There are now two Post 
(^Hices, — one at Sauk City and the other at the village 
of Prairie du Sac. Thei'e was formerly a good deal of 
antagonism existing between these two places ; Upper 
town being settled principally by Americans, and Low- 
er town by Germans. They are, however, now good 
neighbors, and entertain a friendly feeling towards each 
other. 

Sauk City, the lower town, now contains a]>out 1,000 
inhabitants. It has (now being completed) a stone 
School House 40 ])y GO feet, a Catholic Church 90 by 
129 feet, (see engraving), a free Congregational Hall 
20 by 40 feet, 3 Taverns, 6 Dry-Goods Stores, which 
sell $05,000 w^orth of goods per year, 1 Hardware Store 
that does a heavy business for a country tow^n, 2 Drug- 
gists, 4 Brew^eries, 1 Distillery, that does a small busi- 
ness, for all Germans w^hen they come to tow^n to trade 
must have their lao;er beer, — 6 Shoemakers, 4 Black. 
smiths, 2 Wagon makers, 1 Jeweler, Weknee, an old 
resident, 1 Tobacconist and a Furnace. — See engra- 
ving. It is now double as large as shown in engraving 
and propelled by steam. There are a corresponding 
number of artisans and professional men. There is 
about $75,000 w^orth of merchandise sold annually. 
There is a bridge across the river which is 1020 feet 
long, built nearly on the Hall plan, and is a fine and 
substantial truss work ; and a Bank, that withstands the 
pressure of the times. There is a collection of about 
300 specimens of natural history ; about 250 specimens 




SAllil^i^lY 101 XDKVhv lOlIN ROSCHF 



■lOOJSD B1OST039L iH 

of dijfferent species of stuffed birds which were collect- 
ed mostly in and about this neighborhood, and consti- 
tute perhaps four-fifths of such as inhabit, as well as 
those that frequent this State. It is truly interesting 
as well as instructive to look upon so large a collection 
made mostly in our neighborhood, and notice the great 
variety of plumage, the many different and singular 
forms. We often ask in looking at them, is it reallj 
true that this bird and that bird inhabited Sauk Coun- 
ty. This region of Country has some rare specimens of 
ornithology. This collection is the property, and was 
made by Charles Dininger, a German gentleman. 
From the fact of their being ]3ut up neatly, accurately 
and with an air of life-like appearance, they are valua- 
ble to the student and an ornament to the County — 
there will be a list prej)ared for our future sketches by 
an experienced taxidermist and ornithologist. There 
is a German newspaper printed here, the first copy 
of which was issued by Lochine, as printer, and C. 
DuRR, editor, Nov. 23, 1853. It came into the hands 
of its present owners in October 1856 ; L. Crusius prin- 
ter, H. Kleinpell editor. Its name is Pioneer Am 
Wisconsin — in English, Pioneer on the AVisconsin. It 
now has a circulation of 350 and is doing a good li\Ting 
business. 




SECOTID SKETCH. &1 

Tliis is strictly a family boarding school, under th© 
immediate supervision of Professor H. J. Turner, for- 
merly of Utica, New York. French is the common 
language spoken in the family. It was opened at Sauk 
City in the spring of 1854, and averages about thirty 
students from some of the best families in the State. 

William H. Claek, more familiarly known as Ma- 
jor Claek, located here as a lawyer, in the spring of 
1842. He boarded with Esquire Alban, and I believe 
had his study and office in the Esquire's Log House 
<3hamber, and of course was the first lawyer in the 
County. James S. Alban became his student at law 
on rainy and other leisure days. He moved into Sauk 
County December 21, 1838, crossing the river on the 
ice. His family consisted of his wife and three children. 
His wife who had been in poor health died shortly af- 
ter her arrival. She had the reputation of being an 
excellent woman. Consequent upon his circumstances, 
Mr. Alban labored at various kinds of manual labor. 
He could shell out rails equal to " Old Abe," and has 
since obtained political position as well as Mr. Lincoln. 
He has been twice elected to the Senate of this State, 
is Probate Judge of Portage County, and has just re- 
ceived the appointment of Colonel of the 18th Regi- 
ment of Wisconsin Volunteers. 

There is one class of seventeen members in this and 
upper town Village, of " Albrights," from Jacob Al- 
bright, a Pennsylvanian, who founded this sect. Their 
correct corporate name is " Evangelical Association of 
North America," and another class of nineteen, back at 
the Honey Creek bluffs. There is but a slight differ- 
ence between this sect and the Methodist. 



63 fECOJTD SKETCH. 

There is a " Dutch Reformed Church" of fourteen or 
sixteen members, here whose corporate name is the 
" Evangelical Reform Church." 

There is a sect of " Atheists" also. They first styled 
themselves "Humanists" and held their first meeting 
at Sack City, October 24, 1842. They were in- 
corporated, however, by the name of "Free German 
Association of Sauk County," June 3, 1853. There 
are 70 families in all who are associated together of this 
creed; 20 in this town, 35 in Honey Creek and 15 in 
Mirrimack. They met with violent opposition at first 
from other sects, especially the Catholics, whose desire 
to persecute only strengthened them the more. Their 
members constitute, to say the least, a very respectable 
portion of the community, and their meetings are mark- 
ed with civility and decorum. They employ a salaried 
speaker. Charles Durr, now deceased, was their first 
speaker and Edward Shroeter their present sj)eaker. 
The lectures are u})on some science or biography, or 
any subject the speaker may consider useful. Decla- 
mation by young men after speaking and singing, con- 
stitute their services. Feasts, dancing, and amuse- 
ments are also participated in on Sunday. 

The following is a short sketch of the histor}' and 
.origin of the Roman Catholic Church, at Sauk City, 
as furnished by Rev. F. H. Weinhart : 

" In the month of September, A. D., 1845, there 
came the first Priest and Missionary, Rev. Adelbert 
Inama, of Tyrol, to this place. AVith the then small 
congregation of eight families he built a frame Church 
20 by 3() feet, which, however, scarcely completed, after 
the first service was held therein, accidentally became 
a spoil of the flames. 






^.- '■' **!• '■ 






BECOin:) SKETCH. fit 

"In the year 1847, the Rev. A. Inama, who then re 
moved about three miles East of Sauk City, with the 
intent to found a congregation there also, (in which he 
succeeded beyond all expectation, having since built a 
beautiftd Church, 45 by 90 feet,) was followed by the 
Rev. Maxmilian Gaertuer. Up to 1852 the divine ser- 
vice was held in the public School House of this place, 
when the foundation to a stone Chui'ch 50 b}^ 105 feet 
(not 90 by 129 feet,) was then laid, of which Charles 
J. Ross, of Sauk City, is the architect. 

" The conoTeo'ation then vet beins; a very small num- 
"ber, only a part of said building, 35 by 50 feet was 
erected, in which the divine service was held up to the 
present time. 

" Up to the year 1858, the congregation gradually 
increased to the number of about 80 families, at which 
time the Rev. ]\I. Gaertuer i-eturned to his old home, 
Tyrol, and was then succeeded by the Rev. F. li. Wein- 
hart, also a Tyrolese by birth, who is still attending 
the congregation. The work of the building was then 
continued with united zeal, and in 18G0 the walls were 
completed. During last summer (1861,) the Church 
became entirely enclosed. 

"Had it not been for the late money crisis, and the 
now pending war Ijetween the North and the South 
of this great American Republic, the work would have 
progressed farther, but with the aid of divine providence 
the congregation expects to complete the building du- 
ring the coming year, 1862. 

" The Church is also in possession of two beautiful 
bells, one of which was purchased by the congregation 
some time since, and the other was presented to the 
Church by Casper Horrnung, in the spring of this vear, 
1861." F. H. WEINHART. 



54 SECOl^D SKETCH. 

Chas. O. Baxtee, Esq., in a letter says : 
"Wm. H. Ca]^field, Baraboo, 

" Dear Sir: — At your request I reduce to writing, 
from memory, a few items in relation to tlie early his- 
tory and settlement of Sauk County. 

" Early in the Spring of 1838, Berry Haney receiv- 
private information from George W. Jones, who was 
then dele_o:ate in Congress from Wisconsin Territory, 
that the Treaty with the Winnebago Indians, for their 
lands North of the Wisconsin river, was ratified. Ha- 
ney at that time was engaged with Col. Abner Isichols, 
of Mineral Point, in staging between Mineral Point 
and Fort Winnebago. They had two men in their em- 
ploy by the names of Jonathan Taylor and Solomon 
Shore. Haney at that time w^as living on Black Earth 
Creek, at the place now called Cross Plains. On the 
receipt of the intelligence of tJia ratification of the 
Treaty, as above mentioned, he sent Taylor to the Wis- 
consin Biver, opposite Sauk Prairie, there to await the 
coming of Shore, who went vvdth Haney to Fort Win- 
nebago to purchase a skiff to take down the river to 
Sauk Prairie, in order to get across. They met at that 
point according to previous arrangement, crossed over 
and proceeded to mark out their claims. The first one 
marked out by them was for Berry Haney, on what is 
now Sauk City. Taylor claimed the next above Ha- 
ney, and Shore the next, which claim I afterwards pur- 
chased and own at this time, Planey, I believe had the 
first land broke in Sauk County. In June 1838 he em- 
ployed James Ensminger and Thomas Sanser to break 
ten acres, for which he paid them one hundred dollars. 
The first place in the shape of a dwelling on Sauk Prai- 
rie was built by Ensminger and Sanser. They dug a 
pit in the ground about four feet deep, 12 by 16 or 18 
feet square, logged it up and covered the hole with hay 
and earth, making a sort of root-house. This they 
did for the purpose of preventing the Indians from 
burning them out, as they had threatened- 



SECOITD SKETCH. 65 

"James S. Alban (who is now Judge Albaa of Por- 
County) and family moved on to Sauk Prairie in Jan- 
uary 1839, being the first family I believe in Sauk 
County, or what is now Sauk County. I believe it is 
claimed by John Wilson, of Wilson's Creek, that he and 
family were the first. Plow this is I cannot say ; I 
have always understood, until a few years since, that 
Alban and family were the first. 

"I left Rock Island for Wisconsin about the 1st of 
April, 1839, on board the old steamer Fayette. I ar- 
rived at Galena in due time, and there took stage, — or 
rather wagon — for Mineral Point. The proprietor was 
John Messersmith, Esq. We arrived at his place at 
Elk Grove, at noon, where we were very politely en 
tertained by the Esq. and his family, and after an ex- 
cellent dinner we proceeded on our way. W^e arrived 
at Mineral Point in the evening of the same day. I 
there lay over one day for the stage — or rather wagon 
again — to Madison. At Mineral point I met Berry 
Haney, who introduced me to A. A. Bird, of Madison, 
who was also waiting for the stage, and to many prom- 
inent citizens of the Point. We were one day in going 
from the Point to Haney' s place in Black Earth Val- 
ley, where I arrived, I believe, on the 6th of April. A 
few days after I arrived at Planey's place, Haney, Jo- 
seph Denson, from Iowa Territory, and myself started 
for Sauk Prairie. We followed a dim trail to the river, 
left our horses on the South side and crossed over in 
an Indian canoe. 

" We visited several of the cabins and claim shanties, 
and among others we visited D. B. Crocker's, which 
was situated where the village of Prairie du Sac is now 
situated. While there a little incident occurred that 
may be w^ortli relating. 

" The day was pleasant and we were all seated out 
in front of his cabin, admiring and conversing upon the 
beauties of the country, w^hen some one of the company 
discovered an animal of some kind approaching the 



hQ BSCOZTD SKETCH 

e:rove below us, from the prairie. Some supposed it to 
be a deer, others that it was a wolf. Densou being aa 
old hunter and good marksman, proposed to go down 
and try to get a shot. He took Crocker's gun and 
went down to the grove, Avhere he soon disappeared. 
Presently we Jieard the report of the gun, and very soon 
saw Denson wdth his hat off, running wdth all speed 
towards us, making signs to us to come to him. We 
all ran as fast as we could. When we came up to him 
he told us he had shot an animal, the like of which he 
had never before seen. He said when he lired it leaped 
into the air about ten feet, and then he thought it was 
making after him, which was the cause of his running 
and giving us signals to come to him. Aftes re-load- 
ing his gun, we cautiously advanced to the spot, and 
there found a monster lynx pierced through the heart. 

" The only families that were then settled in what is 
now Sauk County, were James S. Alban and Albert 
Skinner, unless John Wilson. AVilson wvas living at 
Wilson's Creek at that time. There were several young 
men making and improving claims when I came, the 
names of all of whom I believe I recollect. 

"H. F. Crossman, Burk Fairchild, D. B. Crocker, 
William Billings, AVilliam May, Nelson Lathrop, E. 
B. Harner and an old bachelor, by the name of Hun- 
ter. 

" The third family that moved in, w^as named Parks, 
and the fourth Jonathan Hatch's. 

"We celebrated the 4th of July, 1839, where the 
village of Prairie du Sac, now stands. There were 25 
persons present, of wdiom four w^ere females, — Mrs. Al- 
ban, Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Haney. The 
• other population of the County, or what is now Sauk 
County, were present. At that time we were in Craw- 
ford county. In the winter of 1839 and 1810 we pe- 
titioned the Legislature to strike out a new county, 
call it Sauk, and attacli it to Dane for all purposes, 
which was done. 



eOSCOND SKETXOH. 05 

— ^more blossoms than leaves or spears of grass. Bat 
now you see — only now and then — a vacant, unoccu- 
pied green spot ; the blossoms have disappeared by 
the feed in o; of cattle. Their seed could not fall to the 
ground to spring up again to bring blossoms for future 
years. But how is it with the sjjot of land and sur- 
rounding country where we landed in the fall of 1840. 
All then was covered Avith Indian hills ; thousands of 
deer bones, glass neck -pearls, arrow points of flint, and 
Indian graves were everywhere to be found. Yes, here 
they hunted, fished, raised corn and died. Time has 
decayed the bones ; the new generation, children oi 
Germans, have picked up their glass pearls, <fec., to play 
with ; their corn hills have been leveled, the village of 
Sauk City being located upon them, whose largest por- 
tion of inhabitants consists of Germans. 

When I arrived at Sauk I found some Americans 
had made their claims here. The land could not be 
bought from Government, as it was not yet in market. 
Of these claims I only mention a few. Messrs. Haney, 
Kussell, Grossman and Ensminger, who soon sold out. 
Chas. O. Baxter, Esq. has occupied his claim ever since; 
so has Jonathan Hatch. In all there were but a few 
acres of land broken and fenced, and a few log cabins 
built. Haraszthy and his men had erected one already, 
and we went to work and soon built another. 

As time has passed on, all of these cabins have dis- 
appeared. The one in which Hallasz lived burned 
down during a very severe winter night, by which he 
lost many things. The next year after we settled here, 
we were very short of provisions. My brother and I 
raised an enormous quantity of melons, which aided 
much in giving a variety of food 

Haraszthy, Hallasz, my brother and I, sometimes 
made hunting excursions. At one time, leaving the 
settlement, we started for Honey Creek valley, in which 
at that time, not one living soul could be found, but a 
plenty of rattlesnakes. We killed many of them; also 



66 SECOND SKETCH. 

lots of pigeons and prairie chickens, which made ns fine 
soups. AVe found wild honey too, but how to get it, 
we did not understand at that time. At another time 
we started out, taking a horse to carry our tent and 
other things. Near tliat bhiff where Merrihew's mill 
now stands, the Count shot a deer, but unluckily so 
that it escaped him. By and by we all four started 
after the buck, but in vain was all the troul>le. In the 
chase we had lost much time and greatly exhausted 
ourselves, and did not notice a tremendous thunder 
storm coming over us. The Count's head was wound- 
ed and we had nearly lost liim. We arrived at last at 
camp drenched to the skin, where, in the dark and rain, 
we found everything wet ; the tent torn into pieces, and 
its contents swimmino- iu water — no fire — cold and shiv- 
ering. You can believe we made pretty sour faces that 
night; butnever mind, the night passed; at day-break 
we regaled ourselves as best we could. Fine sunshine 
warming us up again, we endeavored to cross Honey 
Creek. But to do this we had no idea what a difficult 
job it would be. We tramped up and down the creek 
through mud, heavy underbrush, and Avere by thorns 
half torn to pieces. At last we were so lucky as to find 
a place where the trunks of fallen trees }n.y partly 
across the stream. Now we ventured out balancing. 
But such balancing I had never done before in my life. 
I used to balance in dancing saloons, in Hamburgh, 
New York, and even in a log caljin on the Wabash riv- 
er ; but here, surely it could not go very well, from 
sheer nervousness on account of being in such a 
critical position. I declare I was not afraid of water, 
as in my former days I was called a pretty good swim- 
er; but that swampy mud by the shore! — if any shore 
was there, nobody could tell where, or whether a bottom 
could be found ; then to swim in mud is a considerable 
piece of art, and I knew, not so easily done, as I had 
experienced before in a piece of Honey Creek swamj). 
However, over we must and did go. But oh ! our 



BECO^^D SKETCH. 6J^. 

traveling assistant bad to come over yet, besides all our 
guns, tent and baggage. Finally, all crossed safely, 
which consumed a half day's labor. Xow we traveled 
on, up hill and dou'n hill, for hours, nntil we struck an 
Indian trail, which set us in good spirits. Not under- 
standing how to travel by compass, however, we took 
ours, out which showed us (green horns,) about the di- 
rection we wished to take, but on we traveled, follow- 
ing that trail. After many hours, up and down, round 
and about, we came out in an entirely contrary direc- 
tion from what we wished to travel ; we stood upon a 
height and saw our Wisconsin rivei-, where we finally 
camped. Being now not very far from Helena, we 
visited for the first time the oldest settler in Sauk 
County, Mr. John Wilson. W^e traveled and camped 
out several times along Pine river, where ^\'e met a 
great many Indian graves, but no settlers. Near the 
head of this river we discovered a cave, in which Ave 
slept that night. The next morning brought us a most 
disagreeable aftair. Wc soon noticed that over night 
our most woi-thy traveling companion, our horse, had got 
loose, and was now — who knows where ? Here we sat 
in the wilderness — with kettle, coffee-pot, blankets, 
tent, (fcc, 1 JUL the horse Avas gone. With empty stom- 
achs, my brother and I started immediately in search 
of the four-leg. We searched and searched — traced 
back where Ave had traveled the day before, not notic- 
ing much how fast the time passed by. At last, fa- 
tigued and A'ery near giving up all hopes of finding the 
horse — there, there Ave came in sight of him, far — far 
away — so far Ave could hardly distinguish him. Really 
we had to combine all our enei-gy ttj advance Avith some- 
thing like good humor. The four-leg Avas eating grass 
very comfortably, while he kept walking sloAviy on, 
bound homeward. Noticing this, we had to march 
faster, to cut him off by and by, but to do this, it cost 
us a "heap" of drops of sweat, until Ave got so far — 
now commenced a chase, and a trying, and ti'ying over 



^8 McoND s;e:etch. 

and over again, to catch that our traveling compan- 
ion. AVe learned noAv, if we had not learned it before, 
what independence means — that horse — really he show- 
ed himself an independent one. He tricked us out con- 
tinually. On that day we learned some experience in 
Western horse-catching ! My legs seemed to me to have 
turned over to the age of sixty or more years ; my 
brains — in what condition they were is hard to tell ! At 
last ! At last ! we caught him, and almost dropped 
down, so exhausted we were. Now came the return- 
ing to our cave, which luckily we found at last ; we had 
done enough that day, which lasted then but a short 
time, and it was sunset. Next morning we started 
together from our cave, but met also with a most un- 
lucky day. We had traveled all day, and not noticing 
that we traveled in too much of a circle, at evening- 
found ourselves at the same spot vre had left in the 
morning — our cave. During the folloAving clay we en- 
deavored to do better — came at last to a creek but 
knew not which one it was, and being bound for home 
we followed it down. We had exhausted our provis- 
ions; the large and fat coon the Count had killed 
was goDe. By climbing upon a high bluff we convinc- 
ed ourselves we were going straight ahead and right. 
With half empty stomachs, we calculated with joy at 
about what hour we should reach Sauk ; but as it often 
goes — so here — we soon found we had made a mis- 
calculation. We had to pass a great hindrance, which 
consisted of a lai'ge tamarack swamp, many of which at 
that time were along the Honey Creek valley. We 
were anxious to get home and not willing to march for 
miles round it, so we concluded to cross it in a straight 
line, but we had to suffer for it. At the commencement, 
for a good while, Ave did not care for the great elastic- 
ity of the ground ; but our marching went over into a 
kind of jumping, somewhat like grasshoppers. It often 
happened that in jumping to wliat seemed a pretty 
Bolid place, on arriving we would find ourselves in mud 



SECOND SKETCH. 69 

— first knee deep, afterwards deeper — but the hardest 
trouble was our traveling companion, that independent 
liorse, with all the baggage. O, Jerusalem ! — hot and 
sultry it was; our bellies fallen in, our skin pretty near 
the bones, and no inside fat present, sAveating all the 
time. Now that liorse got stuck sundry times, not 
alone we had to carry the bao-o-ao-e ! no — we had to car- 
ry the horse too, mostly through this mud and nasty 
smelling swampy concern. I consider it yet half a 
miracle how it was possible that we crossed this place, 
but it came to a fact that we crossed it, and Ave were 
thrown into astonisliment at the fact! But hurrah 
now for sweet home ; this Ave reached at sun-set, totally 
torn and dirty, having l^een out eight or ten days. Our 
German settlers glared and stared at us. I believe 
they could not make out whether Ave came direct out 

of, or from the moon. In fact Ave looked Avorse than 

any European beggars, Winnebagosor chimney sweeps. 

" The Count soon employed a carj^enter, Mr. Mor- 
gan, an Englishman, Avho put him up a frame house 
for his family. This Avas the first one erected in Sauk 
City. I purchased it in latter years, and have kept it 
in repairs. It stands yet, and is occujjied by one Mr. 
Cowles. More frame buildings Avere then put up. That 
of Mr. eJohn Gallards and one under tlie name of the 
United States Hotel, noAv occupied-by Hiram Miller;''-* 
that now occupied by J. AVerner, Sr.; then a part of 
the District School building; then that of the Catholic 
Church — but before this latter building Avas finished, 
during church time it caught fire, and burned doAvn in 
a feAv moments. It Avas full of persons at the time Avho 
liad to fly for their lives. It Avas supposed to have ta- 
ken fire by someone emptying his pipe before entering 
chui'ch. Erom the abundance of shavings which lay 
ai'ound, the Hames spread rapidly. 

Provisions at one time being rather scarce, a civil re- 



* This was a palace of a building far so nc\r a coiinfry, and for auv time, will 
make a fine appearance. It was thoroughly built and furuibbed. W. H. C, 



70 SECOND SKETCH. 

bellion broke out in tLe village among the workmen 
of tlie Count and Bryant. The motto oftlie rebels had 
previously been, "pork and potatoes for breakfast, 
potatoes and pork for dinner, <fcc.," and seldom any- 
thing extra. A procession was formed, headed by a 
stout man, carrying on a long pole a picked ham bone 
for a banner, the rest following' in sinHe file like 2:eese, 
each one carrying a piece of the cooking concern, such 
as tea-kettle, tin-pails, tin pans, <fec.; beating on them, 
shouting, joking, and making a tremendous noise — 
which from the clearness of the evening, was echoed 
back from the bluffs upon the opposite side ; and the 
reverljeration came ag;ain and ao:ain, from the numer- 
ous islands up and down the river, as though all pan- 
demonium was there. When the procession disband- 
ed, the settlement was still and Cjuiet. The supper 
horn w^as blown by the cook at an unusually early hour. 
In a short time a great hurrah was heard, the sequel of 
which was, that dishes were heaped w^ith pies and 
cakes, etc. So ended the Sauk Revolution. 

" Next day lumber, nails, hammer, plow, and every- 
thing was handled extremely fast. At one time I was 
requested by the Count to ride his mare to up^ier-town, 
to buy a few articles from D. B. Crocker's store, which 
was a very small one, and the only one in the country. 
After I jumped upon her back I found her willing to 
run off too fast, and therefore held the reins very tight, 
so she overthrew herself and myself backwards upon 
the hard ground. I was near losing my life at that 
time ; but she gave me a lesson how to ride a mare. 
I did not know, and had no idea this female creature 
had such a soft mouth ! 

" Bears now and then made their appearance here, 
and in hard Avinter niglits we often heard the yell of 
flocks of wolves, whose tracks in the snow on the ice 
were to be seen in abundance all along the river. 

" My neighbor, Lueders, and my brother-in-law, J. 
C Grapel, (deceased) arrived from Haml^urgh. Grap- 



BECOND SKETCH. 7l 

el, my brotlier and I bought a claim of Ensminger,. 
Avho was aftervv'arcls killed in the Mexican war. We 
settled on the land and kept bachelor' s-hall in his log 
house, but took our meals with our neighbor, R. H. Da- 
vis', who lived in Esquire Alban's house, at that time, 
which was situated where J. P. Mann's steam mill now 
stands, and w^as surrounded by a grove of timber which 
has since disappeared, and is supplanted, with fences, 
buildings, (fcc, of German people. To get a house built 
upon our place we sent to Galena, and got out the fam- 
ilies of B. Ragatz, Louis Accula, and Wolf When they 
had finished the house, old Mr. Bartholomew Ragatz, a 
Swiss, now deceased, Avith his family moved out to his 
claim on Honey Creek, and this was the first settler in 
Honey Creek Valley. This valley is now settled most- 
ly by Germans and Sw^iss. 

" When the land came into market, most of the per- 
sons owning claims in Sauk County could be found at 
the Land Office, at Mineral Point, to secure if possible, 
his piece of land. They passed resolutions to protect 
each other against speculators overbidding them. The 
land sale went off peaceably, however, and on the 27tli 
day of October, 1843, the land where now stands Sauk 
City, was entered from Government by Charles Har- 
aszthy, the father of Auguston Haraszthy. 

"The Count and Bryant w^ere somewhat engaged in 
steamboating ; they owmed a share in the Moch Itivei\ 
of which, at that time. I was clerk. We Avent three 
times from Galena to Fort Snelling, (St. Peters) and 
back, and once from Fort Crawford, (Prairie du Chien) 
to Fort Winnebago, for wdiich latter fort we brought 
numerous soldiers of U. S. Lifantry, their baggage, <kc., 
returning from their Florida war trip. At the Forts 
we were kindly entertained by officers and men. Our 
boat was frozen in at Prairie du Chien, but as a warm 
spell of weather came afterwards, the engineer, two 
other men and myself were sent off from Sauk City in 
a skiff to get the boat to Sauk, if possible. After we 



72 SECOr^D SKETCH. 

had started it commenced freezins; very fast. Past sun- 
set Ave were nearly blocked up with running ice ; we 
stopped upon an Island and camped, it being in the 
montli of JJecember. 

" Without a fire we lay down to rest, and when we 
awoke, found about half a foot of snow upon our blan- 
ets. We hauled our skift'on to the ice, and carried it to 
where the river was open. We however had to leave 
the skitf about three miles from Prairie du Chien. We 
commenced our march from hei'e, through the deep 
snow towards that })lace. Our engineer gave out, and 
if left alone would perish. AVe took him between us 
and supported him onward as best we could. We ar- 
rived at the boat and cut her loose, but the ice was too 
strong for her to work in, and our trouble was all in 
vain. We went home under great hardships, it being 
very cold. Later I was engaged as clerk in Haraszthy's 
store. He built the first brick building on Sauk Prai- 
rie. It is that which now Messrs. Williams <fe Son oc- 
cupy as a store." 

EDMOND RENDTORFF. 




SECOND SKETCH. 



73 



To sundry interrogations to E. G. T. Lueders, 
who now resides near Sauk City, the following are his 
answers : 

Sauk City, June 24, 1861. 

It is with regret that I could not have answered 
your letter of June 12th before to-day. I take pleas- 
ure in answering your questions, but in such a con- 
densed form as the time will permit. 

" I arrived at Sauk Prairie in July 1841, in compa- 
ny with my (now deceased) friend, J. C. Grapel, bro- 
ther-in-law of Mr. Rendtorif. We reached Green Bay 
by the way of the Lakes, and passed through the rich- 
ly wooded country which borders upon the Fox Riv- 
er and Lake Winnebago. Leaving the forest and en- 
tering the openings country, we were much surprised 
at the beauty of this natural park. At that early time 
a few farms only guided the stage road. In almost 
every house where we stopped, the hospitable people, 
(settlers, mostly from the Eastern States,) invited us 
to spend a few days at their new homes, and share 
what their humble plantation could afford, of course 
without pay. Arrived at Fort Winnebago, the ter- 
minus of the stage. The fortification was still garri- 
soned ; there was besides, a store, tavern and black- 
smith's shop, near the fortress. From here we went 
down the Wisconsin River by a boat of a French fur 
trader. 

"I spent the rest of the season about Sauk Prarie in 
collecting several hundred species — in part — very in- 
teresting plants. 

" Although I did not intend to spend the winter here, 
I was surprised by it before I could find a conveyance 
to the Mississippi. 

*'In March 1842 I went to Galena, and from there to 
St. Louis. There I found an easy introduction in my 
pursuit, as a Dr. Asa Grayof New York, had kindly 



74 SECOND SKETCH. 

farnislied me with a letter to Dr. Engleman, whose 
services for the development of Western horticulture 
are amply known. 

" After a short stay in the city I proceeded to search 
the Western part of Missouri, collecting plants and 
other curiosities. On my excursion in that part of Mis- 
souri, I found opportunity to gather information about 
the Western country, and resolved to pursue the next 
spring a westerly course, as far as terra jirma would 
permit me to study and collect the flora of the moun- 
tainous country. In the mean time there had awaken- 
ed a spirit of emigration to Oregon, and large bodies 
of emigrants were along the frontier of Missouri form- 
ing several companies. One of these I joined — leav- 
ing the civilized world in May 1843. 

"In the course of the journey, I collected plants and 
noted down peculiarities as circumstances would per- 
mit. 

"The loss of my baggage in the rapids below the 
Grand Cascades of the Columbia River, rests not only 
severe with the collection of plants, but perhaps more 
so with a good many valuable instruments and other 
collecting materials, as I had fitted myself out to spend 
several years in that part of the country. " 

*' The kindest assistance was offered me by the gen- 
tlemanly officers of Fort Vancouver, but could not lead 
meagaininto the course which my enthusiastic mind had 
marked out, and from there all communications by let- 
ter Avere tedious and uncertain, — I concluded to return 

*In Captain Fremont's narative of bis Exploring Expedition of Oregon and Cali- 
fornia, page 228 says : 

"A gentleman named Lueders, a Botanist from the city of Hamburgh, arrived 
at the Bay I have called by his name while we were bringing up the boats. I was 
delighted to meet at such a place a man of kindred pursuits; but we had only the 
pleasure of a brief conversation, as his canoe, under the guidance of t,wo Indians, 
was about to run the rapids; and I could not enjoy the satisfaction of regaling him 
with a breakfast, which, after his recent journey," would have been an extraordinary 
luxury. All his few instruments and baggage were in the canoe, and he hurried 
around to meet it at the Grave Yard Bay; but he was scarcely out of sight when, by 
the carelessness of the Indians, the boat was drawn into the midst of the rapids, and 
glanced down the river, bottom up, with a loss of everything it contained. In the 
natural concern I felt for his misfortune, I gave to the little cove the name "Lueders 
Bay." 

This WM November 11, 1842. , 



SECOND SKETCH. 75 

to Europe and engage anew, after having gained some 
useful experience. 

" In February 1844 I left the mouth of the Columbia 
River for the Sandwich Islands, and proceeded from 
there to Chili, touching the Paradise of the Pacific 
(Otaheite), then in a state of seige. 1 arrived in Ham- 
burgh in November of the same year. 

"In the short space of my absence family circumstan- 
ces had taken a change, that made my presence there, 
at least for several years necessary — so the course near- 
est my heart, for future life, was beyond my individu- 
al control. 

" At Christmas 1844, I again hailed the Mississip- 
pi; I lived at St. Louis until 1851, and after 'that 
time in Sauk County, near Sauk City, tilling the soil 
and my mind.^' 

" I have not touched upon California, as you see by 
the above brief remarks. 

" About the flora of California and Oregon I am not 
able to give any accurate numerical data. 

" The higher or lower number of species of plants de- 
pends partly on the mean temperature of the country 
and the configuration of the same, and besides the 
composition of the soil, physical as well as chemical. 
Many other agents have to be considered that play an 
important part in the flora of a country. 

" According to my knowledge the number of spe- 
cies for a given space in California is considerable larg- 
er than in Oregon or Yv^isconsin ; and still the lattei 
State will hardly make a larger show of variety than 
Oregon. The County of Sauk, however, represent", 
nearly two-thirds of the species of the entire State. 
Our beautiful country, adorned with elevations, valleys, 
plains and low lands, furnishes all kinds of soils and 
situations for the choice of Mother Floi'a, and in varie. 



*Mr. L. occupies and tills ten acres of land, and labors hard both mentally luii 
phy«ica]ly. He is thorough and orderly in his labors, and ijB a world within hiin9«L 

II, W. 0. 



76 SECOND SKETCH. 

ty of plants nearly equal to the most favored countries." 

F. G. T. LUEDERS. 

The Village of Prairie du Sac, or upper Sauk, as it 
is termed, still bears its christian name and now con- 
tains about 600 inhabitants. There is a bridge across 
the river here, 1452 feet long, built in 18 — . It was 
the second one across the river. There is a stone 
School House 30 by 40 feet ; a Congregational Church 
24 by 52 ; A steam Flouring Mill of three run of stone ; 
a steamboat, built for the use of the mill. Henry Row- 
ell, the old miller and machinist, put this machinery in- 
to operation, being the third fine mill that he has built 
in the county ; two taverns, one kept by D. R. Baxter 
(the Baxter House,) one of the oldest settlers in the 
county ; five dry goods stores, that sell about $75,000 
worth of goods per annum ; one hardware and tin store ; 
two boot and shoe stores, (H. J. Ochsner of one of them 
is doing quite a large and liberal business); three back- 
smiths, (one of them, Samuel Kelsey, an old settler and 
much i^espected citizen, has stood by the same forge, 
on the same spot, 18 years. He now manufactures 
wagons and plows quite extensively. He has forged 
quite a small fortune out of the much iron that he has 
hammered); one wagon maker, A. Ortill, who has al- 
so been long in the business here, and is flourishing ; 
one jeweler; four saloons; this place sells about $100,- 
000 of merchandise per annum. There are a corres- 
ponding number of professional men. One of these, J. 
B. Woodruff, settled here in the summer of 1843, and 
was the first physician in the county. He has ever en- 
joyed the reputation of being an excellent physician. 

The Village is built in a grove of burr oak trees ; 













VIEW OFirPPJEKSMrKOK PKAllilE DF SAC 



^f\ 








, 9 ^^W#i@*fe' I 







I'l o/)! letoi s 



SAIK 1 ITY MIIXS 



SECOND SKETCH. 77 

the surface is nearly level, and about 60 feet above the 
Wisconsin River. Many trees have been left standing 
as nature planted them, which gives a pleasant appear- 
ance to the town. 

There is, an Evangelical or Dutch Reformed Church 
in the South-west corner of this town, numbering 131 
members. It was incorporated in the spring of 1851. 
The Church is a neat looking structure 24 by 32 feet. 
The Rev. - — - Leonhardy is the Clergyman. On the 
map it is called Lutheran Church, which is an error. 

John McQuaker, a Scotchman, settled on Otter Creek 
where he now lives, back of Sauk City, in 1844, and 
George Luetcher, a German, in 1846, w^here he yet re- 
sides. 

A. M. Seymour has kindly furnished for this sketch, 
the following : 

Peaibie du Sac, June 1, 1861. 
Wm. H. Canfield, BapwAboo : 

"To your inquiries relative to my settlement at Sauk, 
I would say, — That in the fall of 1852 I came to this 
place. The Village of Prairie du Sac, at that time con- 
tained in all three log buildings, one frame enclosed and 
one unenclosed ; three more log buildings outside, but 
near the village plat was built but unoccupied. About 
a-half dozen were the entire population of the place. 
The names of the heads of the families were Nathan 
Kellogg, Calvin Frink, John LaMeseure, Josiah Ab- 
bott, Frank Grossman, Egbert Cary, Samuel Kelsey, 
Archibald Hill and myself. The four last named are 
yet at this place. 

" The Village was laid out in 1840, before the land 
was surveyed by the United States, by Calvin Frink, 
John LaMesuere and David B. Crocker. The site was 
occupied by Crocker and Burk Fairchild, with other 
Unds immediately joining. In division of claims the 



78 6KC0ND SXKTCH- 

villntco olnim foil to D. B. Crocker, The Govcrnmont 
Iniidsale was in the tall of 184a. William II. Hubbard 
was c'liosen to enter the land in trust for the claimants, 
to be deeded accoi'ding to their res])eetive claims, and 
payments in proportion as theii" claims were to the 
whole, at the rate of $1 50 per acre, which was carried 
out satisfactorily, with one or two exceptions. 

'' When Air. Crocker came to settle here, he brought 
with him a stock of goods suitable for the times. The 
Winnebagos became large contributors to his trade, 
which continued tor several years. Galena was then 
the head quarters for the trade of this place. Goods 
freqiKMitly were shipped by steamboats that came up 
the Wisconsin to supply the military station at Fort 
AVinnebago. 

"The iirst School I believe began about 1S44, and 
was taught In' a Mr. Smith, a Scotchman, who with 
liis family had but recently come from the old country 
— a most worthy noble son from a noble christian coun- 
try, lie continued his school for two or three years, 
and then removeil to Columbia county, where he now 
lives. Since then M-e have been gradually adopting 
the approved systems of education, and keeping pace 
with the growing wants of the present. As soon as 
the fruits of the toil of the husbandman began to be 
thrown into our lap, much toil was experienced in pre- 
paring it for use. The nearest mill was Hicox's West 
of Blue Mouiuls, a distance of 40 miles from Sauk, to 
which a second trip had frequently to be made to get 
our grist. In the fall or winter of 1842. I opened a 
tavern, in company with Wm, II. Hubbard. 
Kespectfullv yours, 

" A. M. SEYMOl-n. 



SECOND BKETCJL 79 

The following communication is from S. 11. Bassin- 

GEP. : 

Pkaikie i>u Sac, May 27, 18G1. 
Wm. H. Caixfield, Esq, 

"Dear Sik : — Pursuant to your request, I take pleas- 
ure in furnishing a brief history of the Congregational 
Church of this place. 

"In January, 1841, the Rev. S. Chafee, hy request 
of the few members of the Church of Christ who had 
emigrated to Prairie du sac, and were living without 
being organized into a Church, visited the place, preach- 
ed a sermon and organized a Presbyterian Church, con- 
sisting of nine members — all having presented letters 
of dismission and recommendation from other Church- 
es, to wit : Calvin Fiink, Lydia L. Frink, Mary E. 
Frink, Xathan Kellogg, John C. Kellogg, Charles F. 
Parks, Burk Fairchild, Jane Axtell, and Elizabeth 
Parks. During the year 1842, there were 9 additions ; 
in 1843, 0; in 1844, 2; in 1845, 3; in 1846, 3 ; in 1847, 
4; in 1848, 1; in 1850, 2; in 1851, 4; in 1852, 5; in 
1853, 2; in 1854, 3; in 1856, 4; in 1857, 2; in 1858, 
10; in J 859, 6 ; in 1860, 11 ; — total 87. Of this num- 
ber twelve have been removed by death ; three have 
been excommunicated and forty-five have received, on 
application, letters of dismission and recommendation 
to other Churches. Among the latter number are six- 
teen who were dismissed on the 25th of November, last, 
at their own request, on account of exceptions being 
taken to the Meeting House being granted previously 
for funeral services, at which time a I* niversalist Cler- 
g}^man preached the sermon. The minister insisted 
that the use of the house should not be granted by the 
trustees for any purpose, without the consent of the 
minister. A majority of the Church and society dis- 
sented from these views, and on account of this differ- 
ence of ojjinion, myself and fifteen others seceded from 
the church, — leaving at present twenty-seven members. 



80 SECOND SKETCH. 

" The Ministers who have supplied the pulpit since 
the first organization are as follows : — Rev. W. W. 
Nichols, from April 1842 to April 1844; Kev. E. G. 
Bradford from April '44 to April '47 ; Rev. W. Coch- 
ran from October '47 to November '48; Rev. E. G. 
Miner from October '51 to October '53; Rev. J. G. 
Kanouse from June '54 to June '55; Rev. D. T. Noyes 
from October '55 to November '58; Rev. H. Hutchins 
from 1st December '58 to 1st December 1860. The 
pulpit has been supplied since November last, by the 
Rev. John Silsby. 

"At a Church meeting held Nov. 29, 1844, the or- 
ganization of the Church was changed from Presbyte- 
rian to Congregational, and assumed the name of the 
First Congregational Church of Prairie du Sac, by a 
unanimous vote. The Church edifice was erected du- 
ring the year 1851, at a cost of about $1,000, and will 
seat 200 persons. Since that time a bell has been pro- 
cured by subscription from the citizens of the village 
for the purpose, at a cost of $300." 
Yours, very truly, 

S. H. BASSINGER. 
The town of Sumpter, (formerly Kingston,) is about 
midway the length of the Sauk Prairie basin, — back 
from, and not touching the river. The South-east part 
comprises the North end of Sauk Prairie, and is sec- 
ond in fertility to none in the County, if indeed in the 
State : it is now in a high state of cultivation. The 
South-west is divided up a good deal by high and nar- 
row ranges of bluffs, the character of which will be 
more particularly described in the Honey Creek basin. 
On the West side lies "Stony Pocket." The word 
" Pocket" is a Western phrase, indicative of a small ba- 
sin nearly surrounded by bluffs. This pocket is a large 
one, being about three miles in length and two broad. 



THIRD SKETCH. 



SUMPTEE. 

DESCRIPTIVE TOPOGRAPHY. 

The town of " Sumpter," formerly called " Kingston," lies 
about midway of the length of the Sauk Prairie Basin, back 
from, and only touching the Wisconsin river at the southeast 
corner post of the town. The southeast part of the town com- 
prises the northern portion of Sauk Prairie, and the land is 
perhaps second in quality to none in the northwestern states. 
It has for a quarter of a century been well cultivated, and the 
residences, and farm buildings are large and of a good char- 
acter. 

The southwest part is considerably cut up by high and nar- 
row ridges or bluffs, from two to three hundred feet high. It ' 
is these Otter creek bluffs that catch the eye of the weary 
traveler, as he commences to descend the Baraboo bluffs on his 
way from the county seat to Prairie du Sac, and few have 
traveled that way from whose lips have not escaped an excla- 
mation of delight as their eyes -ranged over the lovely scene 
presented by the sea-like expanse of level prairie, checquered 
with farms and their various crops and grasses ; dotted along 
the edges with scattering timber, and bounded all along the 
western horizon by the picturesque spurs of the main line of 
bluff which thrust themselves out into the prairie-like head- 
lands into the sea. To the south, in the extreme distance, are 
faint blue lines of hills on the other side of the Wisconsin river, 
while to the east, the bold bluff on the south shores of the same 
completes the frame of the picture. This scene, hightened as 
it is, by contrast to the almost savage wilderness of the road 
across the bluffs, is perhaps the finest "extended" view in all 
Sauk county. 

The Otter creek bluffs are not only beautiful, but they contain 
immense quarries of very good and handsome building stone, 
which is a calciferous sand stone, overlaying the Potsdam. It 



is in layers of from one to twelve inches thick, of a color vary- 
ing from a light cream to one several shades darker ; is easily 
quarried and dressed ; and by a tasteful arrangement of the 
diflferent shades of color, a very good effect can be obtained in 
building. These quarries vary in their lithological character. 
Some are more chirty or flinty than others. One opened by 
Chas. Abbott, has a strata of what seems to be Serpentine, 
probably orthocerata, described in Report of Geological Sur- 
vey of Wisconsin, by Jas. Hall, p. 147. There is a deposit 
of sand rock, of a few feet in thickness, forming a bench in the 
bluff side, owing to its more frable nature. Quarries are 
opened above and below this bench. Those below are usually 
more chirty than those above it. Above the calciferous sand 
stone are beds of Dolomite, from which lime is bnrned. With 
good means of transportation, these quarries must be a large 
source of wealth to their owners, and to the country generally. 

Upon the west side of the town is a recess or bay, surrounded 
on three sides by bluffs, viz : The Main Baraboo Bluff on the 
north ; the Honey Creek Bluffs on the west ; the Otter Creek 
'Bluffs on the south, and opening out on the east on the Sauk 
Prairie. This is what is locally called a " Pocket," and in this 
case is " Stone's Pocket," so called from the fact of five families 
of that name residing there, three of which are in no wise re. 
lated to each other. It is three miles long by two broad, and 
contains 3,840 acres, of which 8-10 is susceptible of cultivation. 
The high lands are a clay loam, and the bottom lands the same 
with a greater accumulation of vegetable matter. A small por- 
tion, however, has a sandy loam soil. 

The northern part of the town lies upon the south shed of 
the Baraboo Bluffs. It has a heavy clay soil and much of it 
very stony. Originally, it bore a growth of white, red and 
black oak, some hickories, also a few burr oak and maple in the 
vallies. Most of the oak was '-made" into rails by the farm- 
ers on the prairie before the ceremony of purchasing from the 
United States Government was performed. It is now, where un- 
cleared, covered with a dense second-growth, which is already 
beginning to yield an income to those prairie farmers, who have 
added every foot of it to their real estate. The bluff, sides 
are cut by many and deep ravines, on the sides and bottom of 
which are quantities of sharp angular fragments of quartzite — 



B. 6E. 



fi'tW 



1..™ K<'»/*ri> „iV . 




'*^"" , IT Mviim\ j 

..J 



blocks of sand stone, sand stone partly metamorphosed, grani- 
tic boulders and masses of conglomerate, talcose slate and beds 
of nearly pure talc — tumbled and jumbled so that when you pass 
over them you balance from point to point, if indeed you are 
so lucky as to " make a point." In the bottom of these canyon- 
like ravines — among these rocks, shrubs, ferns, lichens and 
mosses drips pearly drops forming slender threads — ripples 
and gurgles the purest of water. A gentle channel emerges 
and flowing out into the intervale, joins others, thus forming 
small creeks, available for stock, and from its softness rejoices 
the heart of the farmer's wife at the wash tub. The land upon 
the bluff sides and top is so filled with stone as to be generally 
unfit for cultivation, with the exception here and there of small 
tracts. Near the northeast corner of the town upon the north 
boundary line lies Devil's Lake — " Spirit Lake " — " Lake of 
the Hills." A very small portion of it lying within the limits 
of the town. 

CHRONOLOGar. 

The town of Kingston (now Sumpter) was one of the original 
five towns of Sauk county, organized May 10th, 1849. It was 
so named by Henry Teal and Charles Kern, who were 
former residents of Kingston, Lucerne, Penn. It has been 
believed by some that it derived its name from a family of 
Kings, who settled near the centre of the town. The old 
gentleman, Mr. Hozy King, soon opened a tavern, and 
at one time had a small stock of goods. This place 
became known as King's Corner. In March, 1856, Solomon 
King laid out a village plat at the Corners and called 
it New Haven. It is better known now by the name of King's 
Corners than New Haven. (The old gentleman was living with 
his second wife. She with her second husband. He had ten 
children and she ten, yet between them they had but nineteen). 

The first Town Meeting was held at the house of James 
Moreland, April 3d, 1849. Jas. I. Waterberry, chairman; Isaac 
Gibbs and Sam'l Shaw were elected supervisors; Prescott Brig- 
ham, town clerk; Sam'l Mather, assessor; Ransome E. Stone, 
school superintendent; Cyrus Hill and David Randall received 
an equal numbe:* of votes for treasurer; R. Baxter was appoint- 
ed clei'k in place of P. Bryan, who had resigned. 



1850 — Calvin Danforth, Wm. Farnam, John Thelke, super- 
visors; D. R. Baxter, clerk; Hiram Bailey, assessor; R. E. 
Stone, school superintendent; Albert Jameson, treasurer. June 
15th, T. B. Cowles was elected treasurer in place of A. Jame- 
son, resigned. 

1851 — Sam'l Shaw, John Dennett, Chas. Kern, supervisors; 
D. R. Baxter, clerk; J. I. Waterberry, assessor; A. Jame- 
son, treasurer; R. E. Stone, school superintendent. 

1852 — R. E. Stone, Ira Ball, Michael Quiggle, supervisors; 
Fred. S. Roper, Phillip B. Stamates, assessors; Calvin Johnson, 
treasurer; Sam'l Shaw, school superintendent. 

1853 — J. I. Waterberry, Eli Davis, F. S. Roper, supervis- 
ors; Philo Barber, clerk; J. W. Fyle, assessor; Geo. Gatwinkel, 
treasurer. 

1854 — Eli Davis, Nicholas Furst, John Dennett, supervisors; 
Chas. Naffs, clerk; Rob't Colburn, assessor; Geo. Gatwinkel, 
treasurer; Norman Wood, school supei'intendent. 

1855 — John Dennett, David Shell, Peter Perry, supervisors; 
Thomas D. Long, clerk; David Zimmerman, treasurer; Ryland 
Stone, Isaac Gibbs, John F. Stone, assessors; R. E. Stone, 
school superintendent. 

1856 — Eli Davis, Sam'l Mather, Wm. Farnam, supervisors; 
T. D. Long, clerk; John Dennett, treasurer; T. D. Long, school 
superintendent; Peter S. Young, Sam'l Waterman and Chas. 
Kern, assessors. 

1857— Jas. I. Waterberry, Wm. Johnson, Geo. C. Babcock, 
supervisors; Thos. D. Long, clerk; David Zimmerman, treas- 
urer; Wm. W. Perry, superintendent of schools; Eli Davis, 
assessor. 

1858 — Thos. D. Long, Hiram Houghton, A. Hall, supervisors; 
O. S. Knapp, clerk; D. N. Barber, treasurer; J. I. Waterberry, 
assessor; C. S. Abbott, superintendent of schools. 

1859 — R. E. Stone, A. L. Justine, C. Farrington, supervis- 
ors; O. S. Knapp, clerk; D. N. Barber, treasurer; C. S. Ab- 
bott, J. I. Waterberry, assessors; G. W. Waterberry, superin- 
tendent of schools. 

1860 — R. E. Stone, John Dennett, Chas. Kern, supervisors; 
Wm. W. Perry, clerk; Harvey Durkee, treasurer; Eli Davis, 
assessor; L. B. Swallow, superintendent of schools. 



1861 — O. S. Knapp, John Dennett, Chas. Ryone, supervis- 
ors; Wm. W. Perry, clerk; Harvey Durkee, treasurer; A. J, 
Sears, superintendent of schools; Wm. Johnson, assessor. 

1862 — S. M. Burdick, John Dennett, Chas. Teal, supervisors; 
Wm. W. Perry, clerk; H. Durkee, treasurer; Eli Davis, asses- 
sor. 

1863 — S. M. Burdick, Chas. Teal, P. S. Young, supervisors; 
Wm. W. Perry, clerk; H. Durkee, treasurer; Eli Davis, super- 
intendent of schools; Eli Davis, assessor. 

1864 — M. Willis, J. B. Cowles, Geo. Gatvs^inkel, supervisors; 
W. W. Perry, clerk; H. Durkee, treasurer; Eli Davis, assessor. 

1865 — M. Willis, J. B- Cowles, Geo. Gatwinkel, supervisors; 
W. W. Perry, clerk; H. Durkee, treasurer. 

1866 — M. Willis; W. W. Perry, clerk; H. Durkee, treasurer; 
R. Barber, assessor. 

1867— W. W. Perry, Thos. G. Francis, John Thilke, super- 
visors; Edwin Burnette, clerk; Harvey Durkee, treasurer; R. 
Stone, assessor. 

1868— W. W. Perry, John Thilke, John Dennett; Edwin Bur- 
nette, clerk; Harvey Durkee, treauser; A. Jameson, assessor. 

1869 — R. E. Stone, D. F. Denison, Joseph Lunich, supervis- 
ors; Wm. A. Johnson, clerk; Harvey Durkee, treasurer; Ryland 
Stone, assessor. • 

18*70 — Wm. W. Perry, P. W. Carpenter, H. Gatwinkel, su- 
pervisors; W. A. Johnson, clerk; H. Durkee, treasurer; Ryland 
Stone, assessor. 

There being a town of Kingston in Green Lake county, 
causing confusion in mail matter, the County Board in 1861 
changed the name. In the midst of the excitement at- 
tendant on" the firing on Fort Sumpter, and its defense by Maj. 
Anderson, they gave it the name of Sumpter to commemorate 
that event. 

November 14th, 1855, the town of Merrimack was organized 
out of Kingston territory. 

Sections 23 and 24 of town 11 north, range 6 east, was set off 
to Baraboo, 1862. 

Of the old settlers, who are heads of families, and still (1870) 
reside in the town, (enumerating down as far as 1857) the fol- 
lowing list is given : 



6 

1838 — Albert Jameson and wife, Wm. Johnson and wife and 
son Roswell. 

1840— Mrs. Henry Teal, Charles Teal, Alex. H. Johnson and 
wife, Mrs. Andrew Hodgett. 

1843 — Eli King, August Stadtman, John Schlag. 

1845 — Geo. Gatwinkel, Henry Gatwinkel. 

1846 — Jacob Hutz, (Sauk county, 1842,) Mrs. P. Brigham, 
Alonzo Waterberry, Charles and Henry Rork, John Thilke, 
(Little Prairie, 1 844,) E. Van Valkenberg. 

1847 — R. E. Stone, Valentine Accola. 

1849 — Wm. Astle, Thomas Stone, Charles Payne, John Den- 
nett. 

1850— D. Shell, Henry Hill, S. M. Haskins. 

1851 — Wra. Perry, Seymour Perry. 

1852 — Jacob Elmandorf, Ralph Elmandorf, Sarah Elmandorf 
Reynolds. 

1853 — Wra. Seibecker, John Wierich, son of Peter W., John 
Leiser. 

1854 — Willis Waterberry, (about.) 

1855 — Peter Knudschi, John Steiber, James Mather, J. W. 
Gordon. 

1866— W. P. M. Johnson, R. White, J. S. Knapp. 

1857— Charles Abbott. 

If the unmarried of both sexes and married women were 
added, there would probably be over fifty persons who would 
have over a twenty-five years' residence in the town. 

Chakles Paeks, whose parents resided for a short time at the 
bluff's, and now (1870) are living near Arena, Iowa county, was 
the first child born in the town, Feb. 1840, and the second one 
in the county. It is said in a note at the bottom of page 58, 
Second Sketch, that Sarah Leland was probably the second 
child born in the county. This must be an error. She must 
have been about two years old when her parents moved into 
the county. 

As an instance not only of the kindheartedness and christian 
charity, but also as an example of the difficulties that besei the 
early settlers, we give the account of the action of Mrs. P. Brig- 
ham, of Kingston, at the Bluffs, she having learned from her 
husband, that a family in Baraboo, were in most destitute cir- 
cumstances, being reduced to grinding a little corn in a coffee 



mill daily for their bread, and the other provisions being nearly- 
exhausted and their boy, an infant with a broken leg, no surgeon 
nearer than Madison. Mrs. B. next morning had her horse 
saddled and packed with flour and pork, and such medicines as 
were likely to be useful or were available and started alone 
with the burden of relief. She lost her way upon the bluffs, 
taking the wrong trail, there being nothing worthy of any more 
definite name to follow, had many fears in crossing a swolen 
stream, (Skillett creek) but finally arrived safe at her destina- 
tion. Her aid was most acceptable and unexpected, and it is 
probable that that family must often think with grateful hearts 
of that brave^ kind Woman at their door, with her well laded 
horse. She found that a neighboring woman, Mrs. Rosaline 
Peck, and the father had apparently set the bone correctly and 
the babe was doing well (so it proved.) Mrs. B. the Sabbath 
following, made a second visit, accompanied by Mrs. Henry 
Teal, both on horse-back. (This naration the author can parti- 
cularly vouch for, its coming so near home.) Mrs. Teal 
now (1870) is generally known as grand-ma Teal; her 
kind heartedness ( and indeed that of the whole family ) is 
well known. She has brought up as tenderly as though they 
were her own, seven orphan children. One of whom was 
married to her son Charles, with whom the good old lady, still 
active and lively in her 84th year, now resides, ( 1870 ) at the 
old homestead at the bluffs. Her roof has always been a shelter 
to friends and strangers alike. 

John Hooveb, Sen., came into the town about 1843, and 
soon opened a public house at the Bluffs, upon the east road, so 
called, and for many years made it a pleasant home for the 
traveller. This pleasant couple of Pennsylvanians are now 
( 1870 ) in their graves. 

The nationality of the first settlers of the town, can be seen 
quite truly by the census reports. That of 1860 shows a popu- 
lation 959, of which 359 were born in Wisconsin, 101 in the 
Eastern States, 122 in N. Y., 51 in Penn., 44 in Ohio, 80 in 
other states, 31 in English dominion, 178 in the German states. 
Putting aside those born in Wisconsin, the relative numbers 
between foreign and native born are 394 that moved from the 
states hither, and 209 from Europe. 



The health of the town is superior — being nearly free from 
malarious diseases. The census report of 1860, shows a mor- 
tality of 18 persons: 1 Apepsy, 2 congestion of the lungs, 1 
inflamation of the lungs, 1 asthma, 2 typhoid fever, 1 liver com- 
plaint, 2 cholera infantum, 2 spinal complaint, 1 cholic, 1 croup, 
2 scarlet fever, 1 diphtheria, 1 accident. 

The census report of 1870 shows there to be out of a popula- 
tion of 847, but six deaths this year, 2 of these were by accident, 
1 diphtheria, 1 bilious fever, 1 Hepatitis, 1 Lung feyer. There 
are 154 families. The oldest person 80. These statistics abun- 
dantly prove it a salubrious climate. In fact the county and 
this part of the "norih west" is an invigorating, healthy climate. 

It seems from the census report of 1870, that the poulation 
has diminished 112 persons. This diminution is not owing to 
poverty of soil or natural disadvantages, the reverse is the 
fact. The iSrst farms cultivated in our county were here. 
We have before affirmed the soil to be second to none other in 
the western states. The climatic statistics of the U. S. census 
reports proves its perfect healthfulness. 

This diminution of j^opulation is caused by farmers becoming 
wealthy, and enlarging their homesteads, and from the fact also 
of its being entirely an agricultural town, there being within its 
borders no growing villages or cities. 

AGBICULTTJRAL. 

The town of Sumpter when first settled, and before the soil 
had its wheat growing j^roperties partially exhausted, grew 
very large crops of wheat, and for many years it was its chief 
product. The farmers never have indulged to any extent in 
speculative crops, i e, when compared to the other towns of the 
county. When we shall treat the county as a whole, on the 
subject of agriculture, we will give a comparative table of its 
products. The crop is not reported in the U. S. census reports 
of 1860 and 1870. These reports give the crops grown in 1869 
and 1869: 



1859. 1869. 

Acres Improved 8,712 9,167 

Horses ^42 478 

Milch Cows 309 396 

Working Oxen 107 6 

OtherCattle 467 511 

Sheep 382 1,558 

Swine : 465 881 

Bushels Wheat 31,137 53,028 

" Rye 961 690 

" Indian Corn 18,775 33,629 

" Oats 28,935 48,291 

Pounds Wool 1,471 5,204 

Bushels Potatoes 6,240 8,723 

Bushels Peas and Beans 46 97 



1859. 1869. 

Pounds Butter 19,611 30,995 

»< Cheese 3,858 470 

Tons Hay 587 1,866 

Bushels Clover Seed 8 39 

" Grass " 61 29 

Pounds Hops 15,102 

Pounds Bees Wax 90 80 

" Honey 3-35 70 

Bushels Buck Wheat 65 460 

" Barley 85 3,441 

Gallons Wine 107 

" Cane Molasses 248 917 

Value of Orchard Products . . . $192 $1 ,866 



It is difficult to come to anything like an accurate conclusion 
as to the prosperity or productiveness of a country from the 
census reports. The United States reports of 1860 for the 
crops of 1859, was a very low average, on account of the ex- 
treme drouth that season. The wheat crop averaged but 3|- 
bushels to the acre. The United States census reports for the 
next decade, 1870, which was for the crop of 1869, was again 
very low ; it being another dry season. This year the average 
of the wheat crop was but 5 8-10 busliels to the acre. It is a 
fact that the country is not subject to drouths. The Town As- 
sessors report for the year of 1861, given, the crop of 1860 
shows an average of 22^ bushels of wheat to the acre. The 
average for the decade is about 13 bushels to the acre. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

The only village plat in town is New Haven, formerly called 
King's Corners, on section 3, T. 10 N., R. 6 E. It contains 9 
dwellings, 2 blacksmith shops, 2 small wagon shops and a 
church building. It was layed out regularly, March 22, 1856, 
by Solomon King. A district school building is within a few 
rods of the plat. In the same month, 19th, the village plat 
of Otterville, was laid out by Charles Hedges, on Section 4, 
T. 10 N., R. 6 E., near a steam sawmill, built the year previous, 
by Wm. Farnam and Ephraim Kellogg ; they had a small grist 
mill attached, mostly for grinding feed. About a mile from 
this there was another steam saw mill, built by Robt, Baxter. 
The Machinery from both of these mills is now removed, the 
inhabitants have desei'ted Otterville, and the village lots turned 
into farm fields. There are Y public school houses, 2 of stone, 
6 of wood. That of district No. 1 is the best. It is a wooden 
building, large, well built and nicely furnished, cost $1,600. 
No. 2 has the poorest, but they intend to build another year. 



10 

There are three small wooden church buildings, a Methodist, 
Evangelical (gerraan,) and "Lutheran (german.) The Wiscon- 
sin river improvement will touch the N. E. corner of the town, 
and the Baraboo Air Line R. K., the N. W. corner. This latter 
improvement is being constructed, and fast pushing on to com- 
pletion. There is a post office called Bluff Post Office, at the 
bluff, upon the East road, so called. 

SOCIALISTIC RELATIONS. 

There are none other than district schools and religious 
societies in the town. The first class of that was or- 
ganized in the county, was formed in this town, at the Bluff, 
and at the house of Henry Teal, 1840, the Rev. James 
Whitford officiating, Henry Teal, Geo. Teal, Lucy Brig- 
ham, Catharine Kellogg, Martha Brigham, Thomas B. 
Cowles and Andrew Hodget, were the members of the class. 
Martha Cowles thinks Elder Nicholes, a Congregational 
clergyman that had settled at the village of Prairie du Sac, preach- 
ed the first sermon at Sauk and Baraboo. Mr. T. B. Cowles 
thinks perhaps that a traveling Baptist missionary by 
the name of Mathews, preached the first sermon in the 
county. Mrs. Henry Teal is quite positive that John Crum- 
mer preached the first. While boarding with her at 
Willow Springs, he determined to preach the first 
sermon in Sauk county, that the honor might rest with the 
Methodist denomination. Accordingly, in May, 1 840, he repaired 
to the Wisconsin river on Saturday, and found a log 
stable, opposite Lower Sauk, that was empty. In this he put his 
horse, cutting grass with his pocket knife, sufficient to sustain 
the animal until he should return the next day. A German set 
him across the river in a " dug out." He then went to John 
Hoover's, at the Blufl's. Here, the next day, he delivered his 
sermon and returned to Willow Springs. The next Methodist 
service was held by Reed and Whitford, at Henry 
Teal's. The next by Thomas Fullerton, who was the first 
circuit preacher that made stated appointments, to this class. 
In 1842, there was organized, what was called the Sauk Prairie 
Mission, its territory extended from Black Earth creek, in Iowa 
county, to Dekora^ iu Columbia county. The second quarterly 
Conference was held at Benjamin Johnson's, on Sauk Prairie, 
Dec. 28, 1844; B, T. Kavenaugh, presiding elder of the 



11 

mission, A. M. Badgee, preacher in charge. In 1845, Henry 
SuMMBES, presiding elder, P. S. Richardsox, preacher in 
charge. At this early day, the life of the itinerant was one of 
constant toil, privation and hardships. In 1847, E. Speingkb 
was the presiding elder, E. Hawes, preacher in charge; in 
1849, Edwin S. Bunce, p. c. (preacher in charge) Black Earth 
and Dekora was set off this year. 1850, C. Hobert, p. e. (pre- 
siding elder) of the district, including the Sauk Prairie Mis- 
sion; Edward S. Bunce, p. c. 1857, W. Wilcox, p. e., Wm. 
OsBORN, p. c. 1853, 1. Searls, p. e., J. M. Wells, p. c. 1854, 
I. Searls, p. e. J. H. Scott, p. c. 1855, J. C. Braynard, p. c. 
1856, M. HiMBAUGH, p. e.,H. Palmer, p. c. 1857, ditto. 1858, 

M. HiMBAUGH, p. e., RowBOTHAM, p. c. 1859, ditto. 

1860, A. H. Walters, p. e., R. Fancher, p. c. 1861, A. H. 
Walters, p. e., A. Hall, p. c. 1862, A. H. Waltees, p. e., 
R. Gould, p. c. 1863, E. Yocum, p. e., R. Gould, p. c. 1864, 
E. Yocum, p. e., J. S. Lake, p. c. 1865, E. Yocum, p. e., W. 
B. Hazeltine, p. c. 1866, ditto. 1867, J. H. Bachman, p. e., 
E. McGiNLEY, p. c 1868, J. H. Bachman, p. e., I. A. Sweat- 
land, p. c. 1869, J. H. Bachman, p. e., W. W. Wheaton, p. c. 
1870, ditto. 

There are some members of the Baptist church, who attend 
service at Prairie du Sac, where the society have a chapel. 

There are perhaps twenty members of the First Day Advent 
church, in town ; they are organized but have no house of wor- 
ship. 

In the N. E. part of the town, there is a society of Albrights, 
or properly "Evangelical Association of North America;" they 
have a membership of 28, and have a chapel on the N. E. cor- 
ner of John Thilkb's farm, 24x30 ; the society was organized 
March 23, 1863. 

About a mile north of this, at the Cross roads, by Willhblm 
Sbibbcker's there is a Lutheran Chapel and a Lutheran society 
of fourteen families. It was organized in 1862 ; in 1863 the 
building was erected. 

In this part of the town there are a good many Germans, that 
adhere to the " Free German Association, of Sauk County." 
Their lecture room is in the town of Merrimack. 



12 

A FARCE. 

In the summer of 1845, there was a farce played upon the 
inhabitants of Sauk, by a Barabooan — a man who was a mono- 
maniac upon the subject of Indian troubles. 

On the 18th day of August, 1845, in the evening, he got very 
much frightened, by — some say boys, others think it was 
but his crazy immaginatiou. Be the cause what it 
may, the facts were these: He went to his sister's 
house and told her that she must leave immediately — that the 
Indians were burning the houses and murdering the people at 
Baraboo village — that he saw the flames and heard shrieks from 
the people. She partly dressed her children — took her shoes 
and stockings in her hand, and in company with her brother 
and an Irishman by the name of John Gray, who was board- 
ing there, started in haste for the Sauk settlement, six miles 
distant, in the dead of night, with children half dressed and 
barefooted, over the rocky road, and as soon as time could per- 
mit, reached A. Jameson's house, and urged him " for God's 
sake " to alarm his neighbors, for the people were all massacred 
at Baraboo. These persons were considered truthful, and 
Mr. J. did not doubt for a moment that it was just as they 
had stated, and, as is natural, the ever-quick immagination 
never allows an alarm to subside, and from house to house he 
■went ; and others went ; and in a short time the whole settle- 
ment was in a boil of excitement. Women and children crying 
and urging their fathers and brothers to make haste. Some 
packed their most valuable things; some took provisions, one 
man took oats for his horses and nothing for themselves. In a 
short time the bluff settlement was en route for the Sauk vil- 
lages, alarming their neighbors as they went (who had not got 
the news by rumor.) The towns were reached and alarmed, 
and word sent on to the extreme lower end of the prairie, and 
before daylight all Sauk was rendezvoused at Upper Town — had 
companies organized and officered — Count Harasztha was 
chosen captain. A blacksmith, in fixing a gun, discharged it 
and wounded a person slightly. Scouts were sent out as the 
day dawned, constantly feeling their way to Baraboo. They 
found the people there at their usual employments, and entirely 
ignorant of the intense excitement of their Sauk neighbors. 
This practical joke, although a large one, was pleasantly taken, 



13 

because it was evident that the intention was good and came 
from a monomaniac. Judge Stephen Bates, a much respected 
citizen at Lower Sauk, relapsed from an indisposition, that he 
seemed to be recovering from, in consequence probably of this 
excitement, and in a few days died. He had been a man of a 
very active mind, and during his whole indisposition the family 
had been extremely careful to keep his mind quiet. (He had 
been Judge of a Circuit Court of the State of New York, and 
was one of the jurors in the celebrated Morgan suit — the 
revealer of Free Masonry. Judge Bates was the father of 
Curtis Bates, formerly of Sauk City.) 

Samuel Shaw, of Upper Town, soon after this affair, gave 
vent to some poetic mirth relative thereto, as follows : 

Indian War on Sauk Prairie — August, 1845. 
by samuel shaw. 
Good sir, attend and hear a friend, 

Chant forth a measured ditty, 
Droll things I'll tell which once befell 
Around Sauk Prairie City ! 

The moon rode high in vaulted sky, 

And men did rest on pillows, 
Nor dreamed of ill as they lay still. 

While " varmints " lurked in willows. 

From Baraboo hills, o'er rocks and rills. 

Hard by the Devil's Lake, sir, 
At dead of night, in sore affright, 

Ran men o'er bog and brake, sir. 

"Without a gun, to Sauk they run, 

And tell a fearful story ; 
The scalping knife was taking life, 

Around lay corses gory. 

The news did spread, and roused from bed 

A score of sturdy yeoman ; 
Upon their feet and in the street. 

To fight the Indian foeman. 

From door to door ran half a score, 

And fire-locks did rattle, 
I'm sure no knight e'er felt more fight, 

Than these in hope of battle. 



14 



From friends to friends the news extends, 
And Parson raised a broom-stick ; * 

E'en aged dames caught war-like flames, f 
"While Satan twirled the drumstick. 

Aroused that night, one man in fright. 

Got up hind-side before, sir ; 
Four petticoats near, put on in fear, 

And then cried, give me more, sir. 

And others — some, to jug of rum 

Did go for consolation ; 
And then "hiccup " with courage up. 

To face this tribulation. 

On moon-lit green there soon was seen 

A band of valiant freemen ; 
Armed for the field with sword and shield. 

And guns in moon light gleaming. 

In martial ire, with eyes of fire. 

All ready at command, sir, 
'Tis right at first to know the worst, 

Are Indians out in band, sir ? 

Then they propose where sun arose 
' To send and watch their motion ; 
The matter sift, ask Red Men if 
For fight they have a notion ? 

Through woods and rills, o'er rocks and hills, 

O'er prairie del] and fern, sir, 
To Baraboo where owls hoo, hoo, § 

Did go Sauk prairie men, sir. 

To seat of war they now repair, 
No' Indians there were prowling ; 

One Peter Funk, that night lay drunk, 
And raised a hideous howling. 



* Said to have really occurred. The late Rev. Mr. B , the stated minister at 

what was then called Upper Town, was on that night lodging with one of his friends 
out on Otter Creek, and heing aroused by the cry of (Indians) was soon seen with a 
hroom-stick in his hand, resolved on a desperate defense. 

+ Certain old ladies are said to have manifested strong belliegerent symptoms. 

§ It will be borne In mind that Sauk Prairie was settled before the Baraboo valley, 
and at the time of this occurrence the latter country was sparcely inhabitated, and gave 
no indications of Its subsequent rapid growth and prosperity, and the owls were then 
the most noisy inhabitants of that region. 



15 

The which was heard by talking bird, 

Who for his life did scrabble ; 
On that dread night, in horrid fright. 

Did scare us with his gabble. 

The public mind rejoiced to find 

No danger thence was pending, 
The fright was bad, no fight they had, 

The dread of carnage ending. 

The clash of arms no more alarms. 

Bland peace smiles on our prairie ; 
Far, far from strife, runs even life, 

Altho' our fortune vary. 

Albert Jameson has kindly comunicated the following for 
these "sketches:" 

Kingston, Nov. 25, 1870. 
" Friend Canfikld : 

I received a few lines from you, wishing me to give you a 
few of the particulars, respecting my coming into this county. 

My first visit here, was Dec. 12th, 1838, in company with 
Andrew Hodgett, Alexander Bills and Nelson Lathrop. 
"We crossed the Wisconsin river upon the ice, the snow was 
about six inches deep. After meandering as much of the 
prairie as we could, we camped, in what has since been called 
the Hoover Hollow, from Johk Hoover, who settled at the 
mouth of it. We swept away the snow and made preparations 
for the night ; some making a fire, some collecting pine bows, 
their being in this gorge, as well as others, along this range of 
bluffs, a few pine trees, for a bed. These we had to substitute 
for blankets, for we had none. I was engaged in getting sup- 
per which consisted of rather plain fair, simply corn meal wet 
with cold water and baked upon a stone. After our repast, we 
retired to our lodgings, and spent the night pleasantly. We 
located our claims on the 20th ; ray claim I am now living upon. 
We then started for the river. Esqr. Alban had moved over 
the river with his family that day. We put up that night with 
him, and was entertained as well as could be expected under 
the circumstances. To the best of my knowledge, Mrs. 
Alban was the first white woman living within what is now 
the county of Sauk. Wm. Johnson came in a short time after 
we located our claims. Cyrus Leeland, I think, came here 



16 

the following June ; he brought his family with him, and Mrs. 
Lekland was the second white woman upon our prau ie. I did 
not bring my family until I had been here a year or thereabout. 
I had been here about a year before I knew any thing about the 
Baraboo, except by the Indians. The first woman that crossed 
the bluffs, was Mrs. Peck, in company with Eben Peck, her 
husband. They had to cut their road through the brush over 
the blufi's. Like other new places, the very first settlers labored 
under many and great inconveniences. Our nearest mill was 
south of Mineral Point some 20 miles, owned by I. J. Sheldois". 
I never expected to have seen so great a change take place as 
has in the settlement of this county, in so short a space of time. 
The improvements, commerce, &c., are nearly equal to the 
older states already. Yours Truly, 

A. Jameson. 

WILLIAM Johnson's first settlement in sauk county. 

I have learned from Mr. Johnson and family that he left Bel- 
mont in the fall of 1863. When they arrived at the Wisconsin 
river it was sufiiciently frozen to cross on foot. They left their 
team at the river, with a man to care for it, and went to the blufis, 
near the Honey creek Valley, and crossed over into what was 
called the " Pocket," to a cabin occupied by one Lathkop, 
where they spent the night. The next day they went to the 
point of the bluff where he now resides, and liking the location 
set his men immediately to work. There had been a storm, 
commencing with rain and then freezing, which festooned every 
twig and branch with ice. The day was clear, making, says 
Mr. Johnson, the most brilliant display of ice adorning, that he 
ever saw. 

They threw up a small cabin near the spot where now stands 
the steam saw-mill, and spent the winter in getting out rails. 
Thirty or forty Indians lodged near them. They were fair 
neighbors, and dealt with their white friends considerably, 
never, but in one instance, having any difiiculty. Then an In- 
dian insisted on having flour when they could spare no more, 
and was about helping himself, when Caret, (his oldest son,) 
caught hold of his clothes in such a way as to walk him hastily 
on tip-toe out of doors, to the great amusement of the other 
Indians. 




V'.V.W OIMVILLIAM .U}lUf»ONS KY.SUnV^iVY. 

o,. .tatiUPrinrit 



17 

The next spring he came on with five ox teams, a set of 

blacksmith's tools, a large breaking plow, and a mill similar to 

an overgrown coffee mill. He got the mill of Col. Moore, of 

Belmont, Iowa, and Moore got it of an old pioneer, who it is 

said, ground for toll. It is believed to have cracked the first 

kernel of corn in the northwest, as well as the first in Sauk 

county. It was capable of grinding nearly a bushel an hour. 

The old mill should be preserved as a memorial. They got J. 

E. Albak to help them across the river. It was with much 

difficulty they got the cattle into the water, but finally succed" 

ed. One yoke, however, would not swim, sinking and rising 

like a drowning person. They finally got them started beside 

their two canoes and made good progress until their feet 

struck a sand bar, where they made a stubborn halt, and 

efi'ectually anchored them out. They coaxed and vrhipped; 

the cattle turned their yoke. They unyoked them to keep them 

from drowning, and tied each one to a canoe, and put the boys 

(John Robbhsts and George Folen, both of whom are now 

dead,) into them, and Johnson and Alb-1n got into the water 

and crowded them off the bar. They then made a great efibrt 

to get into the canoes. The boys were frightened almost to 

death, for neither of them coitld swim. They might have taken 

hold of their horns and kept the canoes away from them; but 

instead of so doing they broke everything, except the paddles, 

they could get hold of, over their heads. They soon got them 

imfastened and let them go their own way, and the boys landed 

upon an island. They were too poor canoeraen to get to 

Alban and Johnston, v^^ho were obliged to swim to them. But 

they had time to do that and get back to the oxen before they 

landed on the opposite shore. One ox was thought to be dead. 

They hauled him out and he finally came to and got well ; but 

from that day to the day of his death he could not bo got near 

ohe Wisconsin river. They started in above Upper Town, and 

landed upon this side, below town, a distance of a mile and a 

half from where they started. 

That summer he broke 60 acres for themselves, and as much 
more for their neighbors. The next summer they fenced and • 
put into crops what land they had broken ; and their harvest 
was never better. In the fall he moved his family here. After 
this harvest the little mill was of much use. It was a f ule of 



18 

the family th.at one man should grind before breakfast enough 
for the day's use. The neighbors also made much use of this 
mill. 

When the land came into market, Mr. Johnson entered 640 
acres. He has sold none except what he has deeded to his 
sons ; having now 400 acres. He had three girls and a boy by 
his first wife, and eight boys by his present wife — some of 
whom are married. He has been and now is an energetic man, 
and has probably assisted in laying more roads than any other 
man in the county, excepting surveyors. He is a member of 
the Methodist church. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

Wm. Johnson, Albert Jameson and Samuel Shaw, have 
many thanks from the author and compiler of " Outline 
Sketches of Sauk County," for their reminisences. We feel 
particularly thankful to Louis Claud for assistance in arrang- 
ing part of the matter of this " sketch " and for valuable 
suggestions. 

Errors and omissions are incidental annoyances — criticism a 
purifier. The friends of " Outline Sketches " will do a favor to 
the author and public, by pointing out to him those omissions 
and errors when noticed. 



DEVIL'S LAKE 

•sji S a basin of water 1^ miles long, north and south, by f 
'^iH.miles wide, east and west. It is located in the south part 
,of the town of Baraboo ; a small portion of it in the north 
part of Siimpter, Sauk county, Wisconsin, niched in the 
Baraboo bluff, 2^ miles south of the village of Baraboo. 
The Baraboo bluffs are a wide range of bills with much moun- 
tain-like scenery in them. Their highest points are from 700 to 
800 feet above the Wisconsin river. They are composed chiefly 
of pal-azoic rock, and have by convulsions been rent, shook, 
canyoned and piled, from whence comes the mountain-like 
scenery. In the pass where the lake is located, the bluff ap- 
pears to have completely parted from base to base as though a 
river had' passed through, and subsequently filled up from 150 
to 300 feet with glacier debris. Near the" north end the lake 
basin was scooped out, and is now filled to the depth of 50 
feet with pearly and very soft pure water; the rock-bound 
shores rising over 400 feet above it. This primitive-like rock 
scenery being so far distant from a mountain chain, renders it 
the more interesting. It has already become a favorite place 
of resort for pleasure seekers. It has for the past few years' 
profitably supported a public house at the north end, the 3Iinni- 
Waiiken, and at this time there is another in course of erection 
at the south end. The land-lord of the Mlnni- Wauken, S. 
Hardley, has a small steamboat "the Capitola," together with a 
fleet of row-boats. The south end of the lake is known as 
Kirkland, where there are pleasure grounds. At the north end 
Louis Claude, an English gentleman, has fine grounds, and 
buildings in rural design. The lake has no visible outlet, yet 
it has a small inlet. At times it overflows to the north into 
Babbling Brook, thence into Baraboo River. At the 
present time, IS'ZO, the Chisago & Northwestern Rail- 
road Company are constructing the Baraboo Air Line 
Railroad through the gap at the east shore. There 
has been much written and published relative to it, much of 



20 

which is exaggeration. It is an easy matter for many minds to 
find myths and legends to si)in yarns of, to weave into ballads, 
epics or fertile prose. So much of ^nch matter has been served 
out to the public and greedily swallowed, it would be extremely 
difficult to disabuse the venerating of the reality of their exist- 
ence. It is said that Indians will eat no fish caught out of the 
lake. The earliest settlers — those who associated with tlieirred 
brother — knew their canoes were upon the lake, and that they 
hunted about and fished there the same as elsewhere. From 
much careful inquiry of those early settlers, it does not appear 
that " Nitchie " had any legends of this lake ; yet from their 
known legend characteristics, it is not utterly improbable but 
that he may have had. 

There has been efibrts made to cbange the' name of the lake 
to " Lake of the Hills " and " Spirit Lake." The name so 
stands upon some maps. Laterly it has fallen back upon its 
"bad manitou " name, given by our forest brother, in square 
Enrrlish. 




"fjSfl) H. WOOD, of Portage City, (the well-known mer- 
chant), after a visit with his family to the lake, 
Ogives the " Portage Register " an epic of what he 
there saw and imagined. We copy the "Baraboo Republic's" 
synopsis of it : 

" My Geological Friend, will you please permit your fancy to 
retrospect the 20,000 years last past when the old pancake for- 
mation call Wisconsin was 'without form, and void;' when the 
vast sandbed from Dekorra to the Lake Superior rej^ion was 
overflowed, and the water commenced to recede toward Green 
Bay ; when the little clamshells on the top of Lone Rock began 
to petrify, and the ' Old Granny' rocks on the Kickapoo were 
just getting their noses out of the water. 

" Previous to this, old Vulcan, who had been forging thun- 
derbolts, — which, ' let off",' had upheaved the Blue Mounds and 
the Illinois prairies — found his works moving along in the region 
of Dekorra. Here, with a regular 'peacemaker,' he tore open 
the gap at Dekorra, letting the pent up waters through the 
rocks. This in the end will be a great blessing to the Missis- 
sippi river country, giving it a ship canal to the great lakes. 



21 

Never'.beless it spoilt the mighty chaunel of the Fox, and ren- 
dered .it necesst'ry to cut the Portage canal and expend a good 
deal of money. So much for explaining the origin of the Wis- 
consin river. 

"But old Vulcan, though drowned out at Dckorra, fanned the 
expiring embers of his furnace at Merrimack, and came rushing 
on toward the upper Barraboo, casting and lieaving up the 
Baraboo bluffs, at a r&te which must have astonished the mound 
builders. Gaining force as he proceeded, and wrathy from his 
Dekorra ducking, his upheavals soon assumed the volcanic 
form, and his eruptions were of a high old order. For three 
miles down this valley did he cast forth rocks, from one hundred 
tons weight downward. But the grand expn-ing effort of his 
whole northwestern experience was at the ' Devil's Lake.' Hero 
he piled quartz rock to the extent of the weight of a small 
country like France, and his last upheavals were of the Califor- 
nia order, getting particles of gold mixed up with the molten 
quartz, when Jupiter interfered with his extravagant spree, and 
Ordained that the people of the Baraboo hills should henceforth 
and forever be the virtuous sons of toil. The Baraboo (which 
at that time was agitated by a tearing flood) let in the water to 
the tune of a lake four miles in circumference ; and this lake, 
then, is the crater of the last volcano in the United States. So 
disgusted was the old blacksmith, that he put out for the country 
of the Andes, where he has ever since kept up his fires. But, 
doubtless, as soon as the ship canal is finished, he will com- 
mence operations upon Louisiana soil, and not only rib that 
alligator country with mountains, but stop up all but one of its 
dozen mouths, thereby afl:ording slackwater navigation, like the 
Hudson, its whole length. So you see that in this matter of a 
ship canal. Providence is on our side; and the mighty god, 
Vulcan, having deserted, and drowned the devil in his own 
lake, is enlisted in the improvement enterprise also. 

" But we must go to the other end of the lake. Most of the 
party go by boat. But three of us, valiant men who ' lap water 
like a dog,' chose to climb the rocky steep and go over the 
mountain. No donkey can aid us here ; we are not fooling 
about the sloping Alps now; We are climbing the Devil's Lake 
precipice, and can make no comparisons till the devil gives the 
world another. A man who can climb a greased pole can gen- 



23 

erally climb up here ; but when we undertake to descend at the 
other end, towards the vineyards of N. C. Kirk, Esq., and in 
a broiling sun, then the case is different. ' Can we get down 
here, Mr. Kirk?' we shouted when we got to a point wliere we 
could not see over. ' Not there ! steer to the right and take it 
coolly,' said he. Coolly ! We -have swam the Wisconsin when 
the current ran from shore to center, but we never were so com- 
pletely used up. Ice-water, fii'e-vvater, and lake-water, with the 
cool shades, finally calmed our heaving bosoms, and Ave pro- 
ceeded to view the paradise of Wisconsin. You might have a 
combination of Madison with the "76 farm, and the St. Luke 
f^rm opposite Portage, added to the New York Central Park, 
and still you would want Kirk's groves, lake-front, lawns and 
ancient mound — where he exhumed the pre-Adumite sketeton 
in a sitting posture — to make paradise complete. 

The designs of providence are often seen in the selei'tion of 
the right man in the right place. Adam might have been well 
fitted for a landlord, but he must have suffered terribly for guests 
when he made companions of serpents. On the contrary our 
friend Kirk has hosts of friends about him, and no pleasure 
party leaves his beautiful shades, eats bis grapes, apples, and 
drinks his nectar — of which he has a cellar full — without pro- 
nouncing him the prince of good fellows, generous to a fault, 
and worthy of the ownership of such a charmed spot. 

" We advise you — the yeomanry of the northwest — when you 
do go anywhere, to go to the Devil's Lake. Take along your en- 
tire families, and always stay over night, at least ; patronize our 
friend Hartley of the Minni-Wauken House to the best of your 
ability. If the funds are short you can camp in the Sug^ar Ma- 
ple groves, and hire his boats. If you can afford to enjoy his 
comfortable quarters and his cheer, it is worth all it costs; and 
as he is landlord, captain, engineer, fireman and pilot combined, 
he is like his many occupations, ' a host in himself;' and better 
than all, he has no cringing flunkeys about him to sponge your 
loose change for naught, like the eastern watering places. We 
have traveled some, and confess we never saw a spot where 
nature taught the great lesson of her ' bosom's upheaval " as 
here ; and if the world but knew what was here — as it soon 
will — there is nothing in four states that will compare with its 
attractions." 



23 



The following short, truthful didactic verses are truly multum 
inparvo, by S. S. G., dated Baraboo, January 25th, 1870: 

(fb^ STOOD upon the northern shore one summer day, 
Before me, silent, calm, and deep, its waters lay, 
)A mighty mirror, framed by God's own hand 
With granite rock and beach of golden sand. 

Wondering I gazed on mighty cliffs that tower, 
Rock piled on rock, as if by earthquake power ; 
Riven and carverned, silent, dark and drear, 
Whose shadowy shapes frown o'er the waters clear. 

While nature's turrets, walls and gothic spires 
Stand sharply lined lit by the sunset fires ; 
And hardy pines, upheld by fissured rock, 
Sigh to the breeze, or brave the tempest's shock. 

No wonder that the red man, Nature's child, 
When first the dun deer led him to this wild. 
Surveyed the scene, and, struck with awe and fear, 
Felt the dread presence of an evil spirit near. 

'Twas said when lightning flashed athwart the sky, 
And the loud thunder shook the mounds near by, 
Their inmates rose, and oft in birch canoe 
Sj)ed o'er its seething waves swift as the arrow flew. 

The " pale-face," even, ponders o'er its weird design, 
And dreams of ages past, beyond the reach of mind, 
When mountains rose like billows of the sea. 
And formed a valley where a lake we see. 




24 



|TSr the report of the " Geological Survey of the State of 
Wisconsin," vol. l,p. 11, by James Hall, the character of 
the rock about " Spirit Lake," as it is here called, is des- 
cribed : 

" The quartzite rock is compact, nsnally redish brown, often 
pink in the more crystaline portions ; while in some localities 
it is ferruginous, and again, nearly white. In the fresh fracture 
and usually upon the weathered surfaces, no lines of lamination 
or bedding are perceptible. When exposed in cliffs, it is tra- 
versed by numerous nearly verticle joints or fissures, which are 
sometimes so numerous that the exposed portions are divided 
in this way, and fall down in small pieces, entirely covering the 
slope. In favorable positions the times of bedding are dis- 
tinctly perceptible, and the mass is clearly stratified — the alter- 
nation of fine and coarse material, and the diagonal lamination 
of some parts, are as clearly distinguishable as in a modern 
sandstone. 

" In the vicinity of ' Spirit Lake ' and other places between 
the Baraboo river and Sauk Pi-airie, these rocks appear in great 
force. The cliffs bounding that lake are about 400 feet above 
its level, and we have from 100 to 200 feet in nearly perpendic- 
ular cliffs. In ascending over the exposed edges of these 
strata, the lines of bedding are in some places seen ; and to- 
wards the upper part of the exposufe, beds of conglomerate 
occur, in which the pebbles, varying from the smallest size to 
more than a foot in diameter, consist of the brown quartz rock. 
This condition would indicate that the mass became indurated 
and was subsequently broken up and its detritus aggregated 
into a consflomerate." 




25 

The following crude verses are founded on a legend, which 
is said to have given Devil's Lake its not surpassingly euphoni - 
ous, but very suggestive title. They are respectively dedicated 
to my friend ChIndler, (J. c.) * * * * * 

Beij. D. House. 



MINNI-WAUKEN, 



A LEGEND OF DEVIL S LAKE. 




NAMELESS Lake with sullen roar 

Broke on the rocky strand ; 
While Demons of the lake and shore 

Seemed clasping hand in hand. 

And geni of the ether blue, 

With gnomes beneath the earth, 

Seemed met in conclave leal and true, 
To shriek their ghostly mirth. 

The wind awakened from its lair. 
The clouds drove to and fro, 

And chased the waves in upper air, 
As surged the lake below. 

And foam-drops from that upper main, 
To meet the waves beneath, 

Fell in a cold and sleety rain, 
Which covered hill and heath. 

Yet, in yon glen, the camp-fires seem 
To scoff the Storm-King's thrall ; 

And with their bright an4 ruddy gleam 
They rend the midnight pall. 

And round the blaze in circling ring. 

With tomahawk in hand. 
The Chiefs a war-song madly sing. 

To cheer their warrior band. 

But, borne upon the midnight blast, 
A shuddei-ing sound was heard, — 

As though, on rushing pinions, passed 
Some evil-omened bird. 



36 

Fell o'er that throng a hush profound, 
As though each heart were chilled ! 

As nearer came that weird sound, 
The ghostly song was stilled. 

Each warrior grasped his ashen bow, 

And sprang into the shade 
To watch the coming of the foe. 

Concealed, but undismayed. 

And through the darkness of the night 

There strode a stalwart form. 
Whose eye was fixed upon the light 

Which pierced the driving storm. 

He halted not until he'd crossed 

The camp-fire's gleam of light, 
Which, with a bloodred glow embossed 

The storm-king's shield of night. * 

The scalp-lock o'er his shoulders fell. 

And, from his hair, the sleet 
Seemed changed as by a demon's spell, 

To blood drops at his feet. 

Five hundred braves were at his back — 

With stealthy step they trod ; 
Each warrior stepping in the track 

He left upon the sod. 

With folded arms across his breast. 

He spake, with flashing eye : 
"The wolves have left their coward nest ! 

For well they knew 'twas I !" 

He scarce had ceased ere bow-strings' twang 
Was heard from out the shade, 

And war-cry answering war-cry rang 
From brave 'gainst brave arrayed. 

Shriek answered shriek — from hill to hill 

The cry was oft repeated ! 
Till echo, answering echo, told 

The tale of foe defeated ! 



27 

The fires gleamed brighter from the glen, 

Where erst the war-song sounded ; 
But they who sang were prisoners then, 

And by their foes surrounded. 
The lake's wild roar was heard below ; 

The pine trees moaned and shivered ; 
The braves defeated knew their fate, — 

Yet, not a muscle quivered. 
They thouglit, that in the happy grounds 

Along the sparkling rivers, 
That they forevermore would hunt, 
With never failing quivers. 

The conquering chieftian bids his braves 
With thongs of bark to bind their slaves. 

And lead them to the lake ; 
That they, before they leave this land 
To join the phantom hunting band. 

Their thirst might freely slake. 
But when they reach the rock-bound shore, 
His voice is heard, above the roar 

That rages on the strand ; 
And thus he speaks unto his braves : 
"These wolves who robbed our fathers' graves. 

Shall bleach upon the sand ! 

" The fish shall feed from oflf their bones ! 
Their beds shall be upon the stones 

That lie beneath the waves ! 
Their scalps shall in our wngwams hang! 
Their bow-strings in our hands shall twang ! 

And they shall have no graves ! " 

Then, as his order loud was given. 
Their death song chanted up to heaven. 

Above the wild wind's roar. 
Their scalps from off their heads were torn. 
And at the belt of victors worn. 

And they cast from the shore ! 

The morning's sun in gloom arose ; — 

But they who drowned their conquered foes 



28 

Were treading forest path. 
The waves still lashed their roclc -bound shore, 
And seemed to vent, in sullen roar, 

A very Demon's wrath. 

Adown the rocks, far up the side 

Of hill which raised its head in pride, 

A chieftian slowly came ; 
And he alone, of all his band, 
Still deadly weapons held in hand, — 

His eyes flashed vengeful flame. 

And for his braves, who slept below, 
A curse he chanted, deep and low, — 

And these the words he spake : 
" Forever cursed be the face 
Of all these hills, and all the space 

Which holds this cursed lake ! 

"And Minni-Wauken be thy name. 
And cursed be thy waters ! 
For thou shalt have the darkest fiime 
With all our sons and daughters. 

" And nevermore the red man's oar 
Shall dip the cursed water 
Made foul by death and Satan's breath 
Breathed from a field of slaughter. 

" For Manitou has cursed with woe 
These murderous waters, ever ; 
And on this shore shall never more 
Be slung the red man's quiver ! " 

To them its shore forevermore 
Was like the Stygian river 
Where souls in wo roam to and fro, 
" Forever, and forever." 
* * * * * * ^ 

Fair lake ! thy name should never more 
Be linked with thoughts infernal; 

While there are blooming on thy shore 
So many gardens vernal. 



29 

Despite the red man's bitter curse, 

Upon tliy southern border 
A vineyard ripens in the sun, 

Mid nature's wild disorder. 

Fair Kirkland ! thou didst break the spell ! 

Thy groves, with beauty laden. 
Have changed wliat proved the red man's hell 

Into the white man's Aiden. 

And, '■'• Minnehaha " be thy nnme, — 

Thou Lake of laugliing waters ! 
For thou shalt know the brightest fame, 

With all our sons and daue^hters ! 



A LEGEND OF DEVIL'S LAKE. 



BY MISS MAKY E. DAETT. 




^^ESTLED close down between Avild, rocky hills, 
Feeding no rivers and ted by no rills, 
I Devil's Lake lies, like a jewel rare, 
Drojjped from the ocean's casket there 
On the stern gray rocks — they'd forgotten where — 
By wandering nymphs of the upper air, 
But though forgotten, and bound to the place 
By the unyielding clasp of its shore's rude embrace 
Like a sad, prisoned spirit, it still seemed to be 
Ever murmering low for its home in the sea; 
And in pity, perchance, for the painful unrest. 
That at times heaved so wildly its beautiful breast. 
Pines have grown up midst the rocks on its shore, 
And whisper to it of the ocean's deep roar. 
As fanciful breezes, with lingers unseen. 
Toss their dark boughs into wavelets of green, 
Like time-worn battlements crumbling away, 
"Whose dark sides with lichens are softened and gray. 
And over whose fragments of iinshapen stone, 
A soft smile of verdui'e is gracefully thrown, 



30 

Stands bluflfs, that, like Titans, their feet in the tide, 

Seem guarding with vigilance all save oiie side 

Of this crystaline lake — here its pi'isoning band 

Is as fair as though formed by a sea-nymph's hand, 

Of feathery willows and wave-washed sand; 

And back from it with a gentle swell, 

Stretches a forest, where song-birds dwell, 

And squirrels play in the checkered shade 

By its maple boughs and old oaks made. 

Here, in these years of which we are told 

So many legends and stories old, 

Camped for a while a roving band 

Of Indians by the lakelet's strand. 

And, with the maidens of the tribe. 

Bathed in its crystal water 

Ke-she-ah-ben-o-qua,* their chieftian's only daughter. 

Slender her form, her motions full of grace, 
As full of strange, dark beauty her delicate young face — 
Dark as though a shadow from the midnight of her hair 
Enamored by its loveliness, was softly sleeping there. 
But grace of form and feature were lost in sweet surprise 
When the gazer felt the liquid light that trembled from her eyes; 
So much of soul was in the" look, so arch and yet so innocent, 
'Twas love and timid playfulness in one expression blent. 
Yet oft that deeper light would steal into her eyes. 
Which speaks a depth of feeling, boundless as mid-sea skies, 
When listening to the wild music the woodland birds would 

make, 
Or the low-whispered murmurs of the wavelets of the lake. 

Down through the regal woods of June, 

The sun poured fierce the heat of noon. 

All life had fled the open glade, 

And even in the deepest shade, 

A hunter who had thither strayed 

By some strange freak of fate or chance 

From far off, sunny, vine- wreathed B^rance, 

For sight of living creature sighed. 

At length the waters of the lake he spied — 

♦ The early dawn. 



31 



Its hills all blue as though a vail 
Of azure from the sky 
Had dropped between their tree-tops green 
And his expectant eye. 
He hastened on with quickened pace, 
Impatient to survey 
This new-found gem of loveliness 
Dropped sadden in his way — 
But i^ausf s, for a form of grace 
Starts up before him, fair as dream 
Of twilight, crowned as evening's queen 
With stars and pearly dew- 
One startled glance from her soft eyes, 
And, while yet lost in pleased surprise. 
She vanished from his view. 
And left him wondering if some spirit — 
The guardian of the wave — 
Had not just vanished fi-om his sight 
To seek her mystic cave ! 
And she, Kesheahbenoqua, 
Fled to a deeper shade. 
To question why so strange a face 
Appeared to her, a simple maid, 
At such a time, in such a place. 
"Was it some form that she had seen. 
Returned to earth from that fair shore 
Whose hills, arrayed in fadeless green, 
Departed spirits wander o'er ? 

The eve dispelled the mystery, 
As she drew near the camp. 
Just as the faint new moon lit up 
Her silver crescent lamp. 
Smoking the pipe of peace, 
Close by her father's side 
Was that strange face she'd seen, 
That form of regal pride ! 
She rather felt than saw his eyes 
Raise from her father's face 
To read the sweet confusion 
That lent her cheeks new grace, 



32 

As tremblingly she hastened 
To seek the wigwam's shade 
Ere her timid heart's emotioii 
To the stranger was betrayed. 

The months rolled by, and autumn came, 

Yet still the hunter staid. 

As wandering as the Indians there, 

Their camp his own he made. 

With them he chased the slender deer, 

And>»trapped the grim black bear, 

Engaged in every dangerous feat 

A fearless soul might dare ; 

Until the glory of his deeds, 

His skill in every art. 

Had won the envy or the love 

Of cvei'y dusky heart. 

And one heart more than all the -rest 

Watched for the even tide 

To call him from the distant chase 

To linger by her side — 

To lay some trifle in her hand, 

Perchance a single flower. 

Or bird, with sun-briglit plumage. 

Caught in some woodland bower. 

You'd have known why the early dawning 

Had given to her its name. 

By her cheek so like Aurora's 

When lit by the dawns first flame, 

When his step, making music, was heard in the wood, 

And she knew in a moment more 

His shadow Avould fall on the grass where she stood, 

Close by the wigwam door. 

One night she parted from his side, 

And strayed along the shore 

Where, in the moonbeam's silver tide. 

She'd wandered oft before — 

Oft when her heart had known no thought 

Beyond the pearly shell 

The wave soft rippling o'er the lake 



33 



Washecl landward by their swell. 

But now her heart was far too full 

Of a great new-found joy 

To think of vanished scenes or hours, 

Of childhood and its toy; 

For on her lips burned loves first kiss, 

And life for her had known no hour 

More perfect in its bliss. 

Yet though so happy, was it fear. 

Or some foreboding shadow near. 

That kept within her joyous breast 

A vague, strange feeling of unrest ? 

The wind, in whispering to the lake. 

Its haunting raeraories seemed to wake, 

And though the night was silver bright, 

And every wave was gilt with light, 

Theiv murmur seemed a captive's sigh, 

Or some low dierge's melody; 

And through the eve she'd seem to hear 

The breathing of a presence near. 

Oh ! had the form she most should dread, 

Windago, lirst iu every chase, 

The warrior of the stern, dark face, 

Whose lengthened gaze she'd ever fled. 

Haunted their moonlit trysting place ! 

When early morn, with dewey lips, 
First kissed the slumbering lake 
And smiled to see its sleeping waves 
In dimpling ripples wake, 
Each lover sought the chieftian's side, 
To ask the maiden as his bride ; 
The one, with all that hate could paint 
Stamped on each dusky lineament, 
Showing the maid's foreboding true 
In every glance his fierce eyes threw 
HTpon the other, who like stone. 
Scarce curved his lips in quiet scoi'n. 
The chief possessed one passion — pride — 
All others in his breast had died, 
• Or in this one were lost. 



34 



Love never had his bosom stirred — 

He felt no meaning in the word. 

The question, then, within his mind. 

Was not whicli suitor was most kind — 

Which loved his daughter most ; 

But whicii, as hunter, could exceed 

The other in some daring deed. 

He paused a moment. In a tree 

Towering high o'er a cliff, 

He'd seen an eagle seek her nest 

The night before, when in his skiff 

He fished along the shore. 

The 2)lace is found without much search, 

For near the shore two groups of birch 

On either side the rocky way 

Their graceful, silvery branches sway ; 

Then higher up for many feet 

Only nude rocks, one's footsteps meet — 

One fragment, huge and gray, has on its side 

The ripplemarks of some old tide — 

And then a pine, with fire-scathed base, 

Helps mark the pathway to the jilace ; 

A half-burnt tree still higher stands ; 

And then, defying feet and hands, 

A hill-top fortress crowned with pines. 

The looked-for cliff against the sky reclines. 

Not long the silence was nnbroke : 

Pointing towards it, the chieftian spoke — 

" He siiall the chosen suitor be 

Who first from the boughs of yonder tree 

An unfledged eaglet shall bring to me." 

Scarce had they heard the chief's reply, 
Ere they had flung their blankets by. 
And reached their boats upon the strand. 
One hasty glance their pathway planned ; 
Quick the time their paddles make, 
O'er the waters of the lake. 
As swift their steps from block to block, 
Up that wild mass of broken rock. 
O'er fallen trees and fissures deep, 



35 

Through which the startled reptiles creep, 

Through briars tliat, with cruel grasp, 

Claimed blood as tribute for their clasp — 

No pause — no rest — in their wild race. 

Save one dread moment, face to face, 

When they had reached the crag's rude base 

And then no words the silence broke : 

Their eyes alone the challenge spoke. 

With flashes of tliat vivid fire. 

Subtle as thought, without a name. 

That bursts from souls when all aflame. 

Telling the deadly purpose of their ire! 

And then, as with new madness, stung. 

Up the steep crag the pale-face sprung. 

Resting his feet he knew not where — 

Whether on ivy, rock or air. 

That he had gained upon his foe. 

Was all he wished or cared to know. 

The fatal tree was reached at last, 

And upward he was climbing fast, 

When to its base the red man came. 

Something more than rage or shame 

Was in that upward glance of flame — 

A deadly purpose nerved his frame ! 

Eager to know the lover's fate — 

Too eager in the camp to wait — 

The maid, with others crossed the tide, 

And clambered up the mountain side. 

She found a spot where naught coiild hide 

The sequel she must wait — 

A moss-crowned rock, quite near the base 

Of the gray, frowning precipice — 

And there, with eagei', upturned face, 

She stood in wild suspense. 

She saw him seize the eagle's nest. 

And place an eaglet in his breast ; 

But ah ! too late, he came to know, 

His weight was resting on a bough 

Within Windago's grasp. 

In vain his arms are stretched to clasp 



36 

The trunk in their Embrace : 

They only met a fiendish form 

And a more fiendish fiice. 

One upward glance — 'twas a look of pain — 

A frantic grasp that was all in vain — 

And then far down by the maiden's feet 

Was a pool of crimson gore — 

A broken branch — a shapeless form — 

An eaglet— nothing more I 
A cry, as when a heart's string break, 
A moment trembled o'er the lake ; 
And then, as mocking its despair, 
A yell of triumph filled the air, 
For Windago had gained the band, 
-Holding an eaglet in his hand ! 

Like one who walks in some dread dream. 
Unconscious quite of reason's beam. 
The maiden found the water's side. 
Here, the dark horror of the scene, 
Rushed o'er her like a tide — 
The mangled corse — the exultant yell — 
Windago's smile as Pierie fell — 
Oh ! agony ! could she ever wed 
That face that smiled above her dead ! 

Oft, as they'd glided o'er the lake, 
When every wave was bright, 
Pierie had sjjoken of a land 
That never knew a night ; 
A land where all love's dreams are true — 
Where lovers never weep — 
Whose gates sliould open to their view 
When death should bid them sleep. 
She'd seek its shore — why should she wait ? 
Perchance she'd meet hira at its gate; 
If not, to lie beneath the breast 
Of darkest waters, were rbore blest 
Then life, with her dark fate. 

Storms long since have swept away 
The tree that held the nest ; 



37 

But, towering high above the rest, 

To mark the spot, they say, 

There stands a huge, rough rock to-day; 

And, 'tis said, when through the sky 

The hoarse autumnal breezes fly, , 

Scattering the garlands of gold and red 

Autumn has wreath'd round the forest's head, 

The maid comes back from her watery grave, 

And wanders at night along the shore, 

Where oft with her lover she'd wandered of yore ; 

Wreathing her arms, slender and bare. 

With the long, dark waves of her midnight hair ; 

And then o'er the rock, like a spectral shade. 

Glides the shadowy form of the Indian maid, 

And a mournful sob and a wailing cry 

Sweeps through the pines with a shivering sigh; 

As, like a smoke-wreath, she fades away 

Into the mists of twilight gray. 

Woe to the warrior, maid or child, 
That meets this spectre, weird and wild, 
Or hears the notes of the vengeful cry 
That fills the air as it passes by ! 



A CATALOGUE 

OF THE 



Indiginous Animals of Sauk County, 

LISTED WITHOUT MUCH KEFEKENCE TO OKDER OR GENEEY. 



Man. — We have tlie marks of his toil in long gone-by years. 
Hoary Bat — Little Brown Bat. — The latter the most plenty. 

Hoy's Shrew Mole — Common Shrev) — Silver Mole — Star 
Nosed Mole. 

Hedgehog. — Were more common when the country was new. 

'Wild Cat. — Are common. 

Canada Lynx. — Not very rare, 

Prairie Wolf. — Are giving place to the Gray Wolf. 

Foxes. — Are increasing. 

Fisher. — Were plenty when the country was new. 

Weasel — Minh. — Either are not very plenty. 

Otter. — Quite plenty. 

Skunk. — Was almost unknown when, the country was new ; 
now plenty. 

Badger. — Plenty when the coiuitry was new ; now very 
scarce. 

Bacoon. — Plenty. 

Black Bear. — Have been plenty. Cinnamon Bear. 

Squirrels. — The gray most common ; Red next ; Black, Fox, 
Cat, Flying, Striped and Ground Squirrel; all very common. 

Striped Gopher or Leopard Spurmaphile — Gray Gopher — 
Pocket Gopher. 

Woodchuck or Ground Hog. — Very common. 

Beaver. — Their old dams are upon most small streams in 
abundance. 

Jumping Mouse. — Rare ; seen by R. H. Douglas. Beer 
Mouse — Prairie 3Iouse — '3Ieadozc Mouse. The Norway Bat 
and Black Bat are exotics. 

Musk Bat. — Very plenty and much hunted, for his fur. 



39 

W7iiie Porcupine. — Very rare. 

Northern Hare. — Seldom seen. Gray Babbit. — Scarce when 
the coxintry was new, but now very plenty. Water Rabbit. — 
That resorts to water when pursued, sinking below the surface 
except the nose and eyes. 

Deer. — Have been plenty, and yet some left. JSlJc. — But one 
or two has been killed by white men in the county. 

Buffalo. — Had all left before the country was purchased of 
the Indians. 



OF REPTILES. 

TESTUDINA.TE, 

Soft Shell Turtle. — Paddles for feet. Painted Turtle — Snap- 
ping Turtle — Blanding^s Tortoise — Box Turtle. 

SAUREA. 

Green Lizard. — Not common, lliere are t\vo or three va- 
rieties of Skink Lizard. We have one variety of the Glass 
Snake., which is cLassed as a lizard. 

SERPENTS. 

Black Snake. — Not common. Ming-Necked Snake. — Not 
coinmon. 

Yellow Rattlesnake. — Common when the country was new. 

Massasauger Snake. — Common when the country was new. 

Black Rattlesnake. — Uncommon. Bull Snake. — Common 
when the country was new. Green Snake — Striped Snake. — 
Common. 

Blow Snake. — Common M'hen the country was new. 3Iilk 
Snake. — Very rare, if any. Water Snake. — Common. Blue 
Bacer. — Scarce. RattlesnKike Pilot. 

BATRACHIANS. 

Green Frog — Pickerel Frog — Wood Frog — Tree Toad — 
Warty Toad. 

TAILED BATRACHIANS. 

Salamander — Bed-Backed Salamander — Mud Puppy. — 
Often caught by fisherman. 

FISHES. 

Perch — Beam — Bass — Pickerel — Trout — Silver Eel — Shovel- 
hilled Sturgeon — Lampery — Yelloto Perch — Striped Bass — 
Cove Bass — Barter — Lake Sheephead — Fel Pout — Shiner — 
j)cice — White Sucker— Black Sucker — Red Horse — Pickerel — 
Horned Pout — River Whitefish—Gar Pike. 

This completes the list of the Indiginous Vertebra^ creation 
of Sauk county. It is not expected to be perfect or complete. 
Should " Outline Sketches " prosper, a list.of Insects, Articu- 
late Molusks and Radiates, may be given in a future number. 
Also a list of Plants. 



R. 7 E 




.^' 



\ 



I 



FOURTH SKETCH. 




MERRIMACK. 

DESCRIPTR^E TOPOGRAPHY. 

I) HIS town lies at the upper or east end of tlie 
Sauk Praire basin, between the Wisconsin river 
and the Baraboo bluffs, and upon their southern slope. 
Its topography is peculiar and interesting, showing 
the many evidences of the great physical forces of the 
glacieral period. Swirl holes from 50 to 100 feet deep, 
and 20 rods at the top less or more, and conical hills 
50 to 100 feet high. The general snrface of the ground 
looks like a "chopped up sea." We believe that there 
is no portion of country in this part of the State, in a 
circuit of at least fifty miles that we are acquainted 
with, that exhibits so plainly glacial deposits. There 
are abundance of marks upon the bluffs N. W. of the 
town that has been smoothed off and scratched by gla- 
ciers. The valley in which Devil's Lake lies has been 
filled up by glacier debris, and probably the Lake was 
scooped out by the same forces. There are frequent 
small ponds and isolated marshes, affording water for 
stock. Where the Chicago and JSTorthwestern R. R. 
Co. have cut through the small hills, it shows most 
beautifully, this drift deposit. Here is a sand bed, then 
perhai)S clay or gravel next, and so on dejjosited irreg- 
ularly. The soil upon the farms differ as much. A 
farm may have all grades of soil, from barren sand- 
beds to the richest alluvial. The earth in places con- 



tains many boulders from a small siz(» to a cubic ysLrd; 
mostly granitic. The soil of the town will average fair, 
making a good, and well watered district of country. 
The AVisconsin river being upon the south, and the? Bar- 
aboo bluif with its numerous springs upon the north, 
with small isolated ponds and marslies through the 
middle, also the Searl's creek that is formed from the 
springs of the bluflf, passes nearly through the middle 
of the town to the Wisconsin river. Unlike the water 
from the bluffs west of the Lake gap, it is hero 
hard. We can account for it on no other principle ex- 
cept that east of the Lake gaj) the soil on the top of 
the bluff is tilled with cobble lime stone, whereas west 
of the gap there can scarcely be one found. The south- 
ern face of the bluff east of the gap is soft sand rock, 
conglomerated with quartzite pebbles and boulders. 
There is a most beautiful exposure of this rock at Paf- 
rey's grist mill, between the N. E. and N. W. quarters 
of Sections 22 and 23. The face of the bluff has part- 
ed from 20 to 50 feet, to the depth of about 100 feet; 
and extending about a quarter of a mile back into the 
bluffs. Through this dell runs a small creek. The con- 
glomerate, about 50 feet thick, is here most beautifully 
exposed through the entire length of the dell. This is 
indeed a romantic looking place. The town is well 
timbered with a great variety; on the bottoms grow wil- 
low, white maple, elm, birch, cherry, ash; on the knolls 
and bluffs white, n>d, black and burr oak, hickory and 
poplar and hazel; some pine about the rocky cliffs. 
Hence w^e have a town of good land, an abundance of 
water and timber, and a fair stone ( sand stone ) for 
building. The abutments and piers of the 11. R. 
bridge at Merrimack, across the Wisconsin Kiver, 
are partly being made of this rock, taken from the 
bluffs near Pafrey's mill. The town was the favorite 
abode of the ancient mound builder. There are numy 
large and interesting groups of mounds, containing 
many perfect and beautiful shaped aninuxl mounds. 




CHROiSrOLOGY. 

)HE town of Merrimack, according to record, was 
organized ''April 3d, 1855. According to previ- 
ous notice, tlie qualified voters of the town of Kingston 
residing in township No. 10 and 11 north, range 7 east, 
met at the hall of Walter P. Flanders the 3d of April, 
A. D. 1855, at 9 o'clock a. m., for the purpose of organiz- 
ing a new town to be called Merrimack, and to hold 
tlie first annual town meeting for electing the respective 
town officers for said town." 

E. G. Buck was elected chairman of inspectors. Sam- 
uel W. Hovey and Luther Crosshy for inspectors. 

M. Quiggle, S. W. Hovey and M. Brindler were elec- 
ted supervisors; H. M. Manly, assessor; Jas. G. Train, 
treasurer; Clias. Naffz, clerk; Norman Wood, superin- 
tendent of schools; John Quiggle, Sam'l Shaw and J. M. 
Haines, justices of the peace; J. Emerson, constable. 

1856 — M. G. Todd, Lyman Hodsdon and M. Brend- 
ler, supervisors; Chs. N. Naffz, clerk; J. G. Train, 
treasurer; H. M. Manley, assessor; N. Wood, school 
superintendent; Chs. Naffz and A. Tood, justices of 
the peace; I. Shipman, L. Bailey, constables. 

1857— M. G. Todd, N. Furst, L. N. Smith, supervi- 
sors; Chs. Naffz, clerk; J. G. Train, treasurer; H. M. 
Manley, assessor; N. Wood, school superintendent; 

A. B. Bradley, I. Shipman, justices of the peace; F. 
L. Roper, A. Eschenback, constables. 

1858 — This year hogs were restrained from running 
at large. A. B. Bradley, N. Furst, H. M. Jones, super- 
visors; J. M. Haines, clerk; J. G. Train, treasurer; A. 

B. Bradley, superintendent of schools; M. Quiggle, 
Chs. Naffz andD. B. Randall, assessors; David Swartz, 
L. Prems, I. Shipman, constables. 

1859— J. G. Train, N. Wood, Marvin Simonds, super- 
visors; J. M. Haines, clerk; H. M. Jones, treasurer; D. 
B. Randall, assessor; E. P. Barber, superintendent of 
schools; Chs. A. Leach, constable. 



1860 — N. Furst, M. Quiggle, L. Premo, sui:)ervisors ; 
J. M. Haines, clerk; H. M. Jones, treasurer; J. G. Train, 
scliool superintendent; Sani'l Shaw, Chs. Naffz, jus- 
tices of the peace; D. B. Randall, assessor; Wm. Ham- 
ilton, I. Shipman, James Morey, constable. 

1861 — N. Wood, B. Boquer, L. Premo, supervisors; 
Levi Wright, clerk; Chs. Naffz, treasurer; N. A. Bur- 
gess, superintendent of schools; N. Furst, assessor; C. 
L. Parkhurst, const. J. G. Train, represented the south- 
Assembly District in the Legislature, 1858 and 1859. 

1862— N. Wood, (ch'n) B. Boeguer, S. W. Hovey, su- 
pervisors; G. A. Terrill, clerk; Chs. Naffz, treasurer; 
J. M. Haines, assessor; L. C. Parkhurst, constable; 
Wm. Butterfield, M. G. Allard, justices of the peace. 

1863— S. C. Eoby, (ch'n) H. J. Todd, M. Quiggle, su- 
pervisors; L. Wright, clerk; Jas. Morey, treasurer; I). 
B. Randall, assessor; I. Shipman, constable. 

A special town meeting was called, Dec. 12th, and 
$800. raised as bounty mone}'', to induce men to enlist 
into the volunteer military service of the United States 
to save a draft that would be made upon the town for 
volunteers. 

1864 — A special town meeting was called Feb. 17th, 
to authorize the town to raise ^200. for each volunteer 
required to fill the quota of the draft; the money to be 
borrowed. The town was so authorized. 

J. M. Haines, (ch'n) Wm. Thilke, H. J. Todd, super- 
visors; L. Wright, clerk; D. F. Farnam, treasurer; N. 
Furst, assessor; I. shipman, constable. 

A special town meeting was called Oct. 8th, to author- 
ize the town to borrow $2,600 to pay men who volun- 
teered in the military service of the U. S. The town 
was so authorized. 

1865 — A special town meeting was called Jan. 14th, 
to raise $3,000 to pay each volunteer $200 to enlist. 

Wm. Thilke, (ch'n) H. M. Jones, J. M. Coats, suj)er- 
nisors; A. N. True, clerk; D. F. Farnham, treasurer; 
N. Furst, assessor. 



1866— S. C. Roby, (ch'n) Wm. Slade, A. Eschenbach, 
supervisors; L. Wright, clerk; Douglas Cramer treas- 
urer; T. E. Mauley, assessor; C. C. Noyes, constable. 

1867— J. Morey, (cli'n) Wm. Slade, A. Eschenbacli, 
supervisors; L. Wright, clerk; D. Cramer, treasurer; 
T. E. Mauley, assessor. 

A special town meeting called to settle with H. W. 
Bostic for the loss of a horse by an imperfect bridge. 

1868— N. Wood, (ch'n) P. C. Moulton, A. Franzell, 
supervisors; A. N. True, clerk; H. T. Quiggle, treasu- 
rer; Wm. Thilke, assessor. 

1869— D. B. Randall, (ch'n) C. A. Hills, B. Brown, 
supervisors; G. Norris, clerk; D. Schwartz, treasurer; 
D. J. Farnham, assessor. 

1870— H. Bailey, (ch'n) Geo. Shepard, Geo. W. Mor- 
ell, supervisors; G. Norris, clerk; D. Cramer, assessor. 

Special town meeting called Aug. 27th, to authorize 
the town to subscribe the capital stock of the Baraboo 
Air Line R. R. company, which was agreed to, to the 
amount of $10,000. Upon the question there was 167 
votes cast, 99 for, 66 against giving town bonds to said 
B. A. L. R. R. Co., when it shall have been completed 
through the town. 

In 1860 Mr. Samuel D. Coats settled in the town. 
Mr. C. is a portrait and landscape painter. He has all 
he can do in portrait painting at from $20 to $100 
apiece. His delineations are very true to nature. 

We append a list of the old settlers that are still liv- 
ing in the town, enumerating as far down as 1856 : 

1844 — Zoeth Eldridge, who is now the oldest settler 
in town. 

1847— D. B. Randall. 

1848 — Henry W. Shaw, David Sutton, Harmon Kuntz, 
David Swartz, T. Burkhard, F. Risler. 

1849— Wm. Thile, C. Steidtman, Robt. Coulborn. 

1850 — Isaac Emerson, S. K. Hovey, L. Crosby, N. 
Furst, Hiram Bailey, Geo. Fris, D. & T. Swartz, Her- 
man Kunts. 



6 

1851— J. W. Peck, J. Premo. 

1852— A. Gross, Wm. Keitel. 

1853 — D. J. Farnham, Lyman Hodsdon, Clias. Bower, 
Wm. Kruger. 

1854 — Sam'l Cramer, N. Wood, A. Esdienback, F. 
Boegn^r, B. Weiging, A. Coiborn, Wm. Wiglow, 

1855 — 4 Terrill girls, Elizabeth, Cornelia, Emma and 
Hattie, and a son, G. A. Terrill. 

1856— John Goggin, L. Gould, L. Premo, P. C. Monl- 
ton, T. E. Manle}^, T. Scheigner, D. Cramer, M. Quig- 
gle, H. Quiggle. 

George Wood settled in 1843, where Zoeth Eldridge 
now lives, and was the first settler in the town. 

The Post Office was first called Collamer, but after 
the town was organized, it was called Merrimack. 

The JSfoiionality of the early settlers can be seen from 
the Census Report of 1860. There came from Maine, 
3; Conn., 6; N. H., 34; Vt., 49; Mass. 10; K. I., 6; N. 
Y., 127; Penn., 46; Ohio, 31; 111., 10; Canada, 33; Eng., 
57; Wales, 1; Scotland, 1; Ireland, 44; Germany, 107; 
Prussia, 1; Switzerland, 10; Those born in Wisconsin, 
240. 

The HeaWi of the town may be judged of by the 
Census Report of 1870. 2 died this year of Consump- 
tion; 2 of Lung Fever; 1 by Accident; out of a popu- 
lation of 621. There are three more Males than Fe- 
males. The oldest person enumerated is 77 years. 
144 families. 

AGRICULTURAL. 

>ERR1MACK is adapted to a wide range of Ag- 
riculture. Its abundance of water renders it 
vlilu7ible for the production of butter, cheese, and stock. 
Its great variety of soil adapts it to any of the cereals 
grown in this latitude. The farmers thus far have con- 
fined themselves mostly to the production of wheat, 
oats and corn. The Census Reports of 1860 and 1870, 
giving the crops of 1859 and 1869 are as follows: 




1859. 18f!9.| 1859. 18R9. 

Acres improved 2,6-^4 5,027 Pounds of Butter 9,505 15,495 

Hordes 24 S3(> " Cheese 9,505 8i'4 

Milch Cows no 219lTon8 of Hay 58T 839 

Workini? Oxen 82 10 Bushels of Clover Seed 

OtherCaltle SB 13s[ " Grass " 26 

Sheep 138 758 

Swine 252 325 

Bushels of Wheat 10,939 21,.509 

Rye 50 2-^9 

Indian Corn 8,590 17.805 

Oats 11.049 17 778 

Pounds of Wool 148 2 417 

Bushels of Potatoes 2,3ti4 2,298 



Pounds of Hops 6,757 

" Beeswax 5 17 

" Honev 3.35 235 

Bushels of Buckwheat 20 2.35 

Harley 775 777 

Gallons of Wine 30 30 

" Cane Mcjlasnes... .365 36 1 

Value of Orchard products. . $608 603 




IMPEOVElMEISrTS. 

HE town contains one village whicli was laid 
out in September, 1865, by Walter P. Flanders, 
and named Merrimack by Mrs. J. G. Train, from Mer- 
rimack, N. H. 

It commands a fine view of tlie river and the snrroud- 
ing scenery is pleasant. It was first called Brown's 
cabin; as soon as the cabin was fairly completed, 
Brown was mysteriously missed and has never since 
been heard of. Chester Mattson, who was then a bach- 
elor, built the second house and Geo. Grant's family 
occupied it. Mattson and Grant opened a tavern, (we 
believe Thomas Trott was also an interested party) 
and a ferry across the Wisconsin river. The place 
became known as Matt's ferry. It is as well known by 
this name at present, as Merrimack. Mattson made 
energetic efforts to get a direct road from Madison to 
Baraboo. He succeeded in getting a State road laid; 
the papers bearing date Oct. 2d, 1848. It soon 
became a great thoroughfare and known as "Matt's 
Ferry road." Mattson was a visionary, speculative, 
energetic, enterprising man. No old settler can ever 
forget the Old bachelor. Flanders purchased of Matt- 
son and Trott, and laid the town out as before stated. 
W. P. Flanders built a store in 1852 (when half com- 
pleted, it burned down but was immediately rebuilt.) 
and put into it a stock of goods. In 1853 J. M. Haines 
and Lyman Hodsdon purchased this property and put 
in a good stock of general country merchandise, and 
for nine years did a liberal and profitable business. 



8 

For the last decade of years it has not improved much 
if any. Since the building of the Chicago and North- 
western railroad, it has taken a lively start. Its status 
in 1870 was 150 inhabitants, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 2 black- 
smith shops, a wagon shop, a physician, no lawyer or 
settled clergyman. There is a wire ferry across the 
river; the wire cord being 1,200 feet long. W. P. Flan- 
ders had for several years a dairy of 25 or 30 Hereford- 
shire cows ; it is now sold out. 

At present it would be difficult to give the true popu- 
lation or business of the place while the R, R. is being 
constructed. The R. R. bridge will be 2,000 feet long 
and 35 feet above the water. 

Its anticipated advantages. It is situated at the cros- 
sing of two great National thoroughfares, viz: the Ship 
Canal from Green Bay to the Mississippi river, and the 
Chicago and Northwestern R. R., the through line of 
the Northern Pacific R. R. It has a rich country sur- 
rounding and tributary to it. 

In 1844 Harris Searl built a small grist mill upon 
Searl's creek, in S. E., N. W. quarter Section 4, Town 
10 north. Range 7 E. It affords here about 50 inches of 
w^ater. When the mill was completed so that he ground 
a little for himself; there came a great freshet that 
swept out a part of the dam and undermined the mill 
so that it tipped partly over. The damage was so great 
it was never repaired. 

In 1846 David King built a grist mill at the bluff on 
a branch of the Searl creek, using a good deal of the 
furniture of the Searl mill. He used a 26 foot overshot 
water wheel. In 1849 it burned down in mid-day, while 
they were eating dinner. He then built a saw mill, with 
an 18 foot overshot water wheel, below the grist mill 
site; it would saw but 400 or 500 feet of lumber in a 
day. In 1851 he completed a new grist mill with a 36 
foot overshot water wheel. He did a fair business for 
a few years. In 1857 Mr. King died. David King was 
a man that will be held kindly in the memory of all 



9 

who knew him. The community was much indebted to 
him for his mechanical ingenuity. He was a blacli- 
smith, gunsmith, carpenter and mill-wright ; was enter- 
prising, hard-working, steady, sober, and an honorable 
man. Mr. Narracong bought this mill and put in a 
steam engine in 1855. It did not meet his expectations 
and proved a complete failure. Fordice Roper in 1856 
built a new mill farther up the stream, near the mouth 
of the dell. Frederick Roper then came in possession 
of the mill. He used a 40 foot overshot wheel. He 
sold to Isaac Gibbs. In 1860 Frederick and John Ro- 
per built a distillery, and for 10 years manufactured a 
small amount of whisky each year. Many a farmer 
exchanged a few bushels of Rye for a few gallons of 
. Robert Parfrey purchased of I. Gibbs, the Ro- 
per grist mill in 1865, and put in a 60 foot overshot 
wheel and did a very good business. He has now a 
small reacting 6-inch wheel, under 75 foot head. The 
little creek here falls within a half-mile, probably 300 
feet, chafing and foaming down the side of the Baraboo 
Bluffs through a little canyon, making line scenery. 

There was a steam saw mill and machine shop built 
in Merrimack in 1858 or '59. Its money transactions 
became tangled, and it has for many years lain idle. 
The Wisconsin river, at an early day, was considera- 
bly navigated, but for a few years past the trade has 
fallen off in consequence of better R. R. facilities. It 
is now being used more, as the Fox river is better im- 
proved for the shipment of grain; and for the last two 
seasons a steamer has made daily trips from Prairie du 
Sac to Portage. There is no reason why there should 
not be a large amount of business done through this 
channel, when the Government shall have finished the 
improvements now in progress of construction. 

SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RELATIONS . 

• HE Free Will Baptists organized a society March 
6, 1851, at the house of S. W. Hovey, and called it 
the Free Will Baptist Society of Merrimack. Elder 
Maynard assisted. Melinda Maynard, Betsy Hovey, 




10 

Mary Olds, Salvina Premo, S. K. Hovey, Anne Premo, 
Mary Bostic, S. W. Hovey, Chancy Olds, Joseph Pre- 
mo, Minerva Premo, Dorcas, Michael and Lewis Premo, 
were the members. At the present time there are 20 
resident members. 

The Methodist and Free-will Baptist are the most 
numerous religious sects. 

The first class of Methodists was organized at the 
Ferry in 1853. It had six members. Esau Green (now 
deceased.) class leader, and his wife; Wm. Swet, and 
Mrs. Swet his mother; John Cornish and wife. It now, 
1871, numbers about 35. Geo. Pigg is the present class 
leader. In 1856 there was a class formed at the bluffs, 
A. Baker, (class leader.) Mrs. Polly Bailej^, Sarah 
Mathews, Mrs. Louisa Farnham, and Edward Rich- 
mond. It now contains 25 members. In 1860 they 
erected a chapel 20x30, which is located about in the 
centre of the town. It is the only edifice of the kind 
in town except the Humanist Hall, although the Free- 
will Baptists are about erecting one in the village of 
Merrimack. 

In 1860 Elder Warren Cochran assisted in organiz- 
ing a Congregational Church. It had six members. 
Elder C. preached here for a short time, after Rev. Jas. 
S. Jenkins six months. The Society has for some years 
been discontinued. ' 

The Humanists have an organization and a hall, in 
the S. E. part of town, but owing to a split that exists 
amongst them, they number but three or four families. 
Carl Durr (deceased.) settled in Merrimack in 1848 and 
became a gifted humanist speaker, and was much ad- 
mired by his people, and much respected by all who 
knew him. 

There are many Irish Catholics in town, but they 
have no church. They attend divine service at Bara- 
boo and Caledonia. 

The people of Merrimack have always been liberal 
in support of Common Schools. At the Ferry, for 10 
or 12 years, they kept up an excellent lyceum, and at 
times paid lecturers to lecture to them. 

The Good Templars have organized twice but have 
let their order perish. 



ERRATA. 

CORRECTIONS AND OMISSIONS IN AND OF THIRD SKETCH. 

In Wm. Johnson's narrative, on 16tli page, the date 
1863 should be 1838. 

Alex. Johnson settled where he now lives, in 1839. 

Isaac Gibbs came in 1840. 

James Dncy came in 1841. 

H. J. Farnham came as a boy with his father, in 1843. 

Charles Gibbs " " " " 1843. 

U. S. Kendall settled here in 1845. 

Saml Mather's wife and four children — Jesse, Sarah 
C, Shively and Howard, in 1845. 

Laura, widow of the late Jesse Baxter, and a son, H. 
J. Baxter, in 1849. 

H. Durkee in 1849. 

J. Squires in 1850. 

J. Astle in 1850. 

Geo. Weirick in 1851. 

Peter S. Young in 1850. 

O. S. Knapp instead of P. S. Knapp in 1856. 

The name of Thos. D. Long, that occurs several times 
in the list of town officers, should be Thos. D. Lang. 
Charles and Henry Rorck should read Charles and 
Theodore Rorck. 



I \ 



CATALOGUE OF BIR3>S 



Bv Wm. II. Canfjkld 




Remark.St 

In 18GG I published in the Baraboo Re- 
j)ubliG a list of the birds that dwell with us, 
or visit lor a time our county. I was as- 
sisted in preparing that list by E. F. Hobart 
Charles Deinenger, Richard Douglas. 
George R?eley, Mrs James A. Maxwell 
and others. At tliis time there are from 
four to five hundi-ed stuft'ed birds, and 
mammals, in oar county. It is with, certain 
pride that I can record so many apostles 
of natural history, and the fine arts among 
our people. Near the borders of our coun- 
ty at Portage City, Jlr. Steber has, I un- 
derstand, two or tlirce hundred birds and 
animals stufted. Hence here in a small 
area of our State, we can'show some seven 
or eight hundred birds and animals. At 
Kilbqj^iru City resides a gentleman, J. J- 
Brown who compiled in 1847 a work up- 
on fishes, and angling of 330 pages, beauti- 
fully and artisticly arranged, entitled "The 
American Anglers Guide." He has at 
l)resent but a small cabinet of stufled fish- 
.es. 

Before proceeding to the list, I cannot 
forbare giving some reflections upon the 
bird part of creation. How beautiful their 
form ! a common expresion is, when speak- 
ing of any' ling that in form to our eye is 
a model, we say, "that's a bird." How 
agile and graceful are their movements ! 
our sight Clin hardly follow tue humming 
bird. 

AYlien we consider how thia a substance 
the atmosphere is, and how easily birds 
navigate it, it seems wonderful. Bee the 
eagle leave his perch after a graceful 
flap of the wing which launches him as 
it were to sea, in the open space ; he then 
soars, or sails without apparent effect, bear- 
ing up his heavy body to a height beyond 
our vision, where he rides at pleasure, 
using his telescopic eye to watcli and select 
the object of his prey. The cormorant 



sits upon the water a model craft. How 
beautiful their plumage ! Ornithologists 
seem to have searched the vocabulary of 
our language to find sufficient color meas- 
uring words to express the livery of birds, 
asl)lush-ash, blush-blaclc, rufous, metalic- 
green, steel-blue, violate-reflections, dark- 
plumbeous. 

How sweet, pensive, plantive, bold, syn- 
phoneous, delicate their songs ! 

Jenny Lind may try to immolate the 
bobolink, but father Bob is peerless in liis 
song still, a three ounce wood thrush o-r 
a two ounce canary bird gives forth clearer 
more liarmonious and sweeter songs than 
can man with all of his inventions. 

How useful and even essential to man's 
exi^itence arc the birds. Owls were im- 
ported into England as destroyers of the 
mole, a pair of birds with their young, 
bring liourly to its nest hundreds of pes- 
tifterous insects and worms. A neighbor of 
mine, counted seventy angle-worms which 
a robin picked up after a shower, and ate 
in a few minutes. Certain falcons delight 
to feed upon reptiles, let us then protect 
our protectors. Angels are given wings; 
the emblem of our nation is a bird. 

The NAMES OFTIIE ElKDSTHAT DWELL 

IX AND VISIT Sauk County.— (Stationary 
birds will be marked witli a ^,. The 
names or initials of persons who has stuffed 
specimens to exhibit, will be given with 
the name of the bird, or the person who has 
recognized the siDccimen here. As this is no 
attempt at a histor}--, but a mere catelogue 
names, ornithological authors will not be 
noticed. 

I follow in class, order and genera "Ten, 
ney's school zoology. 

Order of Raptors, or Birrs op Prey 

Vulturida or Falcon Family. 
Turkey Buzza rd. The Gray Eagle when 
on the wing ia often mistaken for 



the Turkey Buzzard. W. H. C. 

Duck Hawk or Peregrine Falcon* C. 
D. 

Goss Hawk. C. D. 

Sparrow Hawk C. D. W. H. C. 

Red Tailed Hawk. C. D. 

Marsh Hawk. C. D. 

Sharp Shinned Hawk. C. D. 

White breatcd Hawk, or American Buz- 
zard*. C. D. 

Broad wingd Hawk*-. C. D. 

Rough legged Hawk*. C. D. 

American Fish Hawk*. C. D. 

Bald Eagle, or Washington Eagle.* C. 
D., W. H. G. 

Ger Falcon*. R. H. D. 

Black Hawk. * at the upper narrow^s ol 

the Baraboo River, Col. S. V. R. Ableman 
shot one and -preserved the head and feet. 

Winter Hawk*. R. H. D. 

Stn'gida; or Owl Family : 

Great Horned Owl,* C. D. 

Snowy Owl,* C. D. 

Barred Owl,* C. D. 

An owl in C. D.'s collection somewhat 
resembling the Snowy owl. except it h&s 
horns. Name not ascertained. 

Mottled or Screech Cwl,* CD. 

Hawk or day Owl, 0. D. 

Long Eared Owl,* C. D. 

Little Owl,* R. H. D. 

Short Eared Owl,* R. H. D. 

Cinerous Owl,* R. H. D. 

ORDER OF SCANSOIUi OR CLIMBERS. 

CucitUdoi or Cuckoo Family. 

Black billed Cuckoo, C. D. 

yeUov^bllled Cuckoo, C. D. 

Pkidw or Woodpecker Family. 

Red Headed Woodpecker, C. D. 

Pilated " or Black Wood- 

cock,* C. D. 

Golden Winged " C. D. 

Yellow Bellied " R. H. D. 

' Downey ' " W. H. C. 

Harry , " CD. 

Reu-bellied,* ' " W. H. C 

Brown-headed,* " W. IT. C. 

Black,* " E. F. H. 



ORDEROPTi^SESSORlESOR PERCIIEKS. 

Trocliilidm^ or Humming-bird Family. 
Ruby-throated Humming-bird, C. D. 

As this is a large family, I suspect that 
there are other generics that make their 
summer residence with us. 

Cypselidm or swift Family. 
Whippoorwil, C D. 

AlcedinidcB or King-fishcr Family. 
Belted Kingfisher. 
Colopteridoi or fiy-catcldng Family. 

Kingbird or Bee-marten, CD. I in- 
sist that this bird docs catch and eat bees, 
some authors to the contrary. Mr. E. W* 
Etans, of our town, stated to me last sum- 
mer that he had stood beside a white-clover 
field and saw a kingbird catch and eat 
many bees that were then at work upon 
the clover. 

Pewit or Phosbe-bird, C. D. 

Wood Pewee, R. H. D. 

Small-headed Pewee, R. H. D. 

Crested Flycatcer, R. H. D. 

Blue Grey'Pcwee, R. H. D., froiji Wil- 
son. 

Yellow-throated flycatcher, R. H. D. 

Red-eyed " " 

TurdidcG or Tlvrusli Family. 

Wood Thrush, CD. 

Wilson " R. H. D. 

Hermet 

Golden crowned Thrush R. H. D. 

Common Robin, C D. Tliis is not, as 
some suppose, Robin Red Breast, which is 
an old country. bird 

A Speckled Robin in C D.'s collection 
mostly wliite, it nvay be an albino. 

Blue Bird. 

SylticoUda'. or WarUer Family. 

Maryland Yellow-throai, C D. 

Water Thnsh, 

Black-tliroated Blue Warbler, C D. 
'■ Green " " 

Yellow-rump Warbler, C D. 

Yellow-throated " " 

Black-burnian " *' 

Bay-breasted " " 

Chestnut-sided " " 



Black-poll 

Yellow-poll " " 

Black and ydlow " " 

Bay 

Green Black-cap Fly-catclier, C. D. 
Bed-start, C. 1). When we first moved 
ito the woods in 1842, three miles from 
araboo, a pair of these birds became so 
ime that they wonkl perch upon one's 
lonlders or head. One day one sat quite 
while upon a goose-quill pen that I held 
I my hand. 

Scarlet Tannagcr, (Red Bird, C. D.) 
Canada Warbler, R. H. D. 
Orange-crowned Warble, R. H. D. 



Black and White Creeper, R II. D. 

Illrnndinidai or Sicalloic Family. 

Barn Swallow, C. 0. 

Cliff 

White-billed " " 

Bank 

Chimney " " 

BymbyrAUiclm or Waxwing Family. 
Bohemian Chatterer or Waxwiug,* C. 
)., W. H. C. 
Ceder Bird,* W. H. C. 

Lanidce or Slirike Family. 

Tlie Great Northern Shrike or Butcher- 
Jird,* C. D. 
LiotrichidcB or MocJcincj-Bird Family. 

Cat Bird, C. D. 

Brown Thrush, C. D. 

Ruby-crowned Wren, C. D. 

House Wren, R. II. D. 

Marsh " 
I Wood 

Golden crested Wren, C. D. 

Sliort-bilkd Marsh Wren, E. ;F. n. 
:CeH]dadce or Creeper Family. 

American Creeper,* C. D. 

^\ hite-bellied Nu<hach,*E. F. H. 
I Bliick-cap Titmouse or Chickadee,* C. 
D. 

Iludsouian Titmouse,* R. H. D. 
Alandidce or Skylark Family. 

Skylark or Shore Lark, here often called 
jPrairie Lark.* Not the. sweet songster of 
{Europe, very common on our prairies" 



''It sings sweetly, but not loud, while on 
the wing, but its song is short. It rises ob- 
liquely from the ground for about forty 
yards, begins and ends its song, then per- 
forms a few evolutions and returns to the 
ground. 
Fringillidce or Yincli and Sparroio Family. 

Evening Grosbeak,* a beautiful specimen 
is to be seen, stuffed, in Mrs. Jas. Maxwell's 
cabinet. 

Pine Grosbeak,* C. D. 

Purple Finch,* C. D, 

Yellow or Thistle Bird,* C. D. 

RedCrossbill,*C. D. 

White-winged Crossbill,* W. II. C. 

The Lesser Red Poll,* C. D. 

Snow Bunting, C. D. 

Song Sparrow, " 

Fox-colored Sparrow, " 

Rose-crested Grosbeak, C. D. 

Indigo Bird, C. D. 

Ground -Robin, Towhee or Chewink, C. 



Chipping Sparrow, R. II. D. 

Field 

White-crOwned " " 

White-throated " " 

Tree " E. F. IL 

Black-throated Bunting,* " 

Snow Bird,* 

Idcridoi or Blackbird family. 

Bobolink, Reed or Rice-Bird, C. D. 

Red-winged Blackbird, " 

Yellow-heailed, " " 

Meadow Lark, C. D. 

Orchard Oriole, {Geo. Redy.) 

Baltimore " C. D. 

Rusty Blackbird, " 

Crow u u . 

Many suppose the Black bird and Star- 
ling family identical the latter has rudi- 
mentary outer primary, making the pri- 
maries ten, instead of nine wliich ihc 
Black bird has. 

CorvsdcB, or Grow family. 

Common Crow*. 

Blue Jay*. 
Okder of Rasores or Scrachers. 
Columbidoi or Dove family 

Passenger bird, or wild Pigeon. C. D. 



Caroliua Dove, or Turtle Dove. C. D. 
PJuisianida, or Phesant fomily. 

Wild Turkeys, (have bteu in Sauk Co.) 
W. II. C. 

Sharp tailed Grouse * C. D. 

Pinated Grouse, or Prairie Chickeu,* 
C. I). 

Roughed Grouse or Partridge,* C. D. 
P,:i'icida;, or Partridrjc family. 

Qiiall*. 
Okdku op Grallatores or Waders. 
Cruid or Crane family 

Saud hill Crane. C, D. '■ 

Arddda or Ihroii fini ily. 

Great blue Heron. C. D. W. II. C. 

Green Heron. E. F. H. 

Least Bittern. C. D. 

Bittern or stake driver C. D. 

Xigiit Heron. C. D. 

Bittern of the genera ISfyctiardca. W. 
II. C. 

Gluirpridoi cr Plover family. 
Golden Plover. C. D. 
Kill-deer. C. D. 
Wilsons. CD. 

King, or semi-palmated Plover. C. D. 
Black bellied Plover. C. D. 

Scoloacidm SnijK family. 

American Wood Cock C. D. 
Yellow Legs C. D. 

Burtranis Sand piper, or field Plover. 
C. D. 
Eed breasted Snipe. E. F. H. 
Common Snipe. II. H. D. 
Lous billed Curlew. E. F. H. 

Pallidcc or Pail family. ^ 

Clapper Rail. C. D. 
Sora or Conniion Rail. W. II. C. 
Parrie. R. H. D. 

Order op Natatores, Swimmers. 

Anatidoi or Duck family. 

American Swan. 

Snow Goose. C. D. 

Brant " 

Buflle headed Duck. 

Ring necked Duck. E. F. 11. 

White fronted Goose. C. D. 



Canada or Wild Goose. " 

Mallard or Green Headed Duck. C. D. 
Back Duck. •* 

Green winged Teal. " 

Blue wir.ged " " 

Shoveler or Spoon bill. " 

Bald pate or American Widgeon. '' 
Summer Wood Duck. " 

Big black headed " " 

Ring necked " " 

Red " 

Butter ball. 

Ruddy Duck. '• 

Shell Drake, Goosander, or Fish Da 
C. D. 
Red breasted Messenger W. H. G 
Hooded Merg; us r C. D. 

Peiicanidoi or j^cHci^m family. 

Rough bVlled Pelicon, E. P. H. 

Phoocrocoracidoi or cormorarit family 

Common Cormorant. C. D. 

Double Crested Cormorant. C. D. 

I have auv,ays been much intei-ested 
viewing these fabled and most bcuiii 
cormorants in Mr. Deinengers cabinet. 

Loridoi or GaUfrmily. 

Common American Gull. R. H. D. 

Herring. ' " 

I am confident that there are other v 
rieties of Gulls that frequent the Wiscoi 
sin River. 

Sooty Tern. R. II. D. 

■Red Tern. 

Colylbidoi or Piter family. . 

Great Northern Diver or Loon. C. D. 

Red Kecked Grebe. R. H, D. 

Although I have taken much pains foil 
several years past to perfect a list of onr' 
birds, I do not think it is yet complete 
perfect. It is to be lioped and expet: .1 
that our new and costly school house tliati 
is now in process of erection, will proridej 
suitable rooms for cabinet purposes,! 
where Nature's works can be collected t'>-' 
gether for ocular study of students audi 
citizens. It woulil be a splendid conunence- 
ment if Mr. Denmger's cabinet could be 
obtained for this. Ijouse. He \h desirous of 
selling \\..— Bamboo Independent Print. 



SAUK CITY ADVERTISEMENTS. 

TUB 

FIRST SAUK eOUNTY BEET SUGAR COMPANY, 

At Black Hawk, Town of Troy, 

SAUK COUNTY, : WISCONSIN. 
OFFICERS : 

JOHN SCHNELLEH, Prest. JOHN WAGNER, Sec'y. 
H. OCHSNER, Treasurer. WM. WEFERLING, SapH. 

DIRECTORS : 

John Sciinet.lek, John Wagneu, 

Henry Ochsner, Wai. Weferong, 

G. Baumgartii, John A. Sprecher, 

Martin Meiser. 

Published by CRRSIUS & KLEINPELL. Terms: $3.00 Per Annum. 

JOB PRINTING of every description in the German and English 
Languages correctly and neatly executed at Reasonable Terms, 

ATTORNEY-AT'LAW AND NOTARY PUBLIC, 

Sauk City, Wisconsin. 

Agent of Etna, Hartford, Home, New York, Underwriters Agency, New 

York, and Milwaukee Mechanics' Fire Insurance Company. 

Agent of tlie Breman-HamLurg Steaaiers. 

SAUK CITY, -»---» WISCONSIN, 

CHABLES HALASZ, 

"Wholesale and Retail Dealer in all Kinds of 

LUMBER, TIMBER, SHINGLES, LATHS, PICKETS, &C., &C., 

SAUK CITY, WISCONSIN. 

Wholesale and Retail Dealer in all Kinds of 

LUMBER, TIMBER, iSHINGLES, LATHS, PICKETS, &C., &C. 

Also Dealer in 

Dry Gnofis, Groceries, Sootu, Shoes and Hnrilteare, &c. 

S-A.TJK: CIT^ST, ... -w^iscoiiNrsiJsr. 

p. JOS. SCA.I3DE, 

Sauk Cityj - - - - Wisconsin. 



Sauk City Advertisements— (concluded.) 



J. ^TEIDT & CO., 

Dealers in 

DRY GOODS, GROCERIES, BOOTS, SHOES, CLOTHING, 

Hats, Cui)s, Clothhif/ 3Iade to Order. 
SAUK CITY, - „ - _ WISCONSIN. 

Dealer in 

DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES, BOOTS, SHOES, HATS, CAPS, &C. 

Sank City, Wisconsin. 

Sauk City, _ _ - Wisconsin, 

BRE^VER, 

SauJc City, _ _ _ Wisconsin. 



OUR. SPIEHU, 

13oot aiid. Slioe j^Xalcei*. 

Custom Work made to order. Repairing neatly done. 

Sauk City, - _ - Wisconsin. 

CASPER HOMBERCER, 

Dealer in 

Dry Goods and Groceries, Boots, Shoes, Hats, 
Caps and Yankee ITotions. 



C. BOLLER9 

Dealer in 

Dry Groods, GJ-rocerieSj &:c^ ScCm 

SAUK CITY, - - . . WISCONSIN. 

SAUK CITY PLAININa MILL. 

•-.-e • 

Sasli, Doors and Blinds, Monldmgs, Newel Posts and 

Banisters. 0^^^ Orders SolicUed. 
Sauk City, Wis, ^_ PHJLI P HOEFER. 

J. J. HELLER, 

Dealer in 
Stoves, Hardware, Iron, Tinware, (xroeeries, Notion, Etc., Etc. 
Guttering and Job Work done to order. SAUK CITY, WIS. 



PRAIRIE DU SAG ADVERTISEMENTS. 



BAXTER HOUSE, 

PEAIRIE DU SAC, WISCONSIN. 

D, R. BAXTER, Proprietor. 

LIVERY STABLE, 

PRAIRIE DU SAC, WISCONSIN. 

D. R. BAXTER, Proprietor. 

PRAIRIE DU SAO ACADEMY. 

THREE TERMS PER YEAR. 

Particular attention given to those desiring to teach. 

W. J. PECK, Principal. 

N. B. — Instrumental and Vocal Lessons given on Piano, Melodeon and 
Organ. Also Pianos, Melodeons and Organs for sale. 
Prairie du Sac, Wis. W. J, PECK. 

DR. J. WOTRINQ, 

Sn.rg'eon. and I>ent:ist« 

Pkairie Dir Sac, : Sauk County, Wisconsin. 

S. M. BLAKE, M. D., 

ECLECTIC PHYSICIAN, SUEGEON AND OBSTETEICIAN. 

Office, Prairie du Sac, opposite the Empire House. 

Dentist. 

Prairie du Sac, _____ Wisconsin. 

A. H. ARMOR, 

I* li o t o g- X* a i> li e r . 

Prairie du Sac, - - - Wisconsin. 

Tlioinas Baker, 

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND NOTAEY PUBLIC. 

Agent for the Home, Andes and Security Fire, and Charter Oak Life 
Insurance Companies. PRAIRIE DU SAC, WISCONSIN. 



Prairie du Sac Advertisements— (coiickukd) 



Conger & Bros., 

Dealers in 

Dry Goods, Clothing, Groceries, Etc., Etc. 

Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. 

David Mayers, 

Prairie du Sac, - Wisconsin. 



F. A.. Oertel, 

Prairie du Sac, - - Wisconsin. 

Sylvester [Parr, 

Manufacturer and Dealer iu 
Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. 

HC. J. Ochsner, 

Manufacturer and Dealer in 

.®®(©^^ Amm ummmu^ 

Also, dealer in Hide?, Calf and Slieep Skins, Furs, Toys, Willow Ware, 
Children Carriages, Hats, Caps and Gloves. ^ Prairie du Sac, Wis. 



PRAIRIE DU SAC, WISCOlSrSIN-, 

DEALER IN 

Dry &oods and Grroceries, 

^Di)t§, ©ips„ @o.Q)ts iijicd ib.<a©Sa 

Glass, Paints, Oils, Dye-Stiiffs, Varnislies, 

HA IID WA HE A ND CIl O CKEB Y, 

Ready-Made Clothing, Motions, Fancy Articles, 
Drugs and Medicines, 

PATENT MEDICINES, 
And all other goods usually kept in a Country Store. 



BARABOO ADVERTISEMENTS. 



We.'^tern Hotel — Wm. Wallace, Proprietor, Baraboo, 
. Wisconsin. 

Wisconsin House, by Albrecbt & Sclilag — Board by 
Day and Week. Good stabling in connection. 

/^harles Cowles, Physician and Surgeon, Baraboo, 

^-^ Wisconsin. 

Dr. Hall, Physician and Surgeon. Office 2d door 
east of Dr. Mills' Drug Store, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

Sauk County Bank. T. Thomas, President^ W. B„ 
Thomas, Cashier. A general banking business. Baraboo, Wis. 

\r W. Wheeler, attorney-at-law, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 
f^ C. Remington, attorney-at-law, Baraboo, Wiscon- 

V-^'» sin. 

l/l/'M. Clark, Attorney-at-law, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

MC. Wate, insurance agent and court commission- 
• er, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

M Mould, photographer, Baiaboo, Wisconsin. 

Lang &j Camp, dealers in dry goods, drugs, groceries, 
crocltery, etc., Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

/ ■< A. Sumner, dealer in dry goods, groceries, etc., 

V7» Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

Livery, sale and boarding stable. E. K. Ellsworth, 
Proprietor, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

For first-cl.ass work, go to Junge's barber shop, Bara- 
boo, Wisconsin. 

Gattiker Brothers, dealers in stoves, hardware, agri- 
cultural implements, iron, tin, sheet-iron and copperware, etc., Bara- 
boo, Wisconsin. 

Huntington <fe Stanley, dealers in dry goods, grocer- 
ies, boots, shoes, hats, caps, clothing, crockery, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

Henry Moeller, manufacturer of wagons, buggies, 
cutters, or any thing in the line. Repairing done on short notice. 
Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

Bender &> Meier, blacksmiths and wagon-makers. 
Wagons, buggies, sleighs and other articles of the trade made and i"e- 
paired. Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

PKennelly, blacksmith. Corner of Bridge and 
• Water streets, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 



BARABOO ADVERTISEMENTS-(continued) 



Bara"boo Iron TV^orks. 

WOOD TURNmO AND SAWING. 

Manufacturer and dealer in iron and brass castings, and -will furnish 

steam engines, water-wheels, mill-gearing, shafting, leather and rubber 

belting, iron and wood woi'king machinery, wrought and cast-iron vices, 

bellows and anvils, machinist and blacksmiths tools, etc , etc. 

W. E. KITTRID GE. Proprietor. 

M, Butler, merchant tailor, cloths, cassimers, 

trimmings, etc., Baraboo, Wi-sconsin. 

HH, Webster, blacksmith. All kinds of work in 
• the line, promptly attended to. Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

James Dykins, maker and repairer of wagons, bug- 
gies, sleighs, etc., Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

1^ Thompson, carpenter and builder, Baraboo, Wis- 
• consin. 

Jet; J. Draper, dealers in all kinds of fresh and salt 
• meat and sausage, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

MHerschinger, feed store, dealer in all kinds of pro- 
• duce, cattle, and all kinds of stock. Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

A Andrews, manufacturer and dealer in boots and 
• and shoes. Cash paid for hides and pelts. Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

Stephen Horfstetter, saloon on Oak street, near Post- 
olflce, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

WM. Power, merchant tailor. Cloths, cassimers, 
trimmings, etc., Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

Charles Pfannstiehl, baker, confectioner, grocer and 
restaurant. Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

CHawes, Fashionable Boot and Shoe Maker. For 
• Ladies and Gentlemen Desiring work in the latest style, and warrant- 
ed to suit. Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

)aral)oo City wholesale and retail Brewery. Geo. 

Bender, Proprietor. 

Baraboo wholesale and retail Brewery. G. Roland, 
Proprietor. 

ake House, by H. B. Sheldon. East end of 

Devil's Lake. 

VVTm. Brown, attorney-at-law, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 
\r W. Wheeler, attorney-at-law, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 



BARABOO ADVERTISEMENTS-(contmued) 




m 



PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, AT 

Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin. 

WM. HILL, Editor and rroprietor. TERMS— $2.00 per vcar. The Official Paper oJ 
Sauli County. Established in 1S55. 



MANUFACTURERS AND DEALEKS IN 

BOOTS AND SHOES, 

Two Doors west of Sauk County Bank, 
BARABOO, : : : WISCONSIN. 

J- W. ELLIOTT, Harnessmaker, 

SADDLES FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN FOR SALE. 

Hl^i^iSSiS iOUGJrfjT AMP miM. 

A full supply of nil kinds of JIAMNESS FURNITUUE nhvays 
on liancl. Whips that. CAN JiE HEAT \c\\\\vi\\i injuiy, we always 
have a good supply of Old Stand, North Side of the Public Square. 
Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

j)araboo Valley Nursery — A. G. Tuttle, Proprietor. 

A^ Trees and Vines adapted to the climate of the Northwest, at Whole 
sale and Retail. 

The Baraboo Manufacturing Company, manufacturers 
of all kinds' of Furniture and Cabinet Ware, Bedstcnd.s, Wood Seat 
Chairs, Lounees, Cribs, Table and Stand Legs, Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

M. ,T. JiUOWN, president and 3Ianafj,r. A. A. AVERT, Secretary. 

Island Woolen Manufacturing Company, Baraboo, 
Wisconsin, manufacturers of the Best all Wool, Hard Twist, Plain and 
Fancy Cassimeres, Doeskins, Tweeds, Flannels, Blankets, Yarns, &c., &c. 
All kinds of Custom-Work done at Short Notice. 

Baraboo Flouring and Custom Mills. R. H. Strong, 
Proprietor. 

piaude, Canfield and Thompson, Architects, Civil 

V^ Engineers and Surveyors. Baraboo, Wisconsin. 

Andrews &, Thatcher, manufacturers of Agricultural 
Implements, Plows, Wagons and Buggies, Cultivators, &c., &c. Also 
do a General Repairing Business. Plows and Plow Repairing a Speci- 
alty. All Work Warranted. 

W. VV. ANDREWS. J. THATCHER 

iNNiwAUKEN HousE, Devil's iLake — S. Hartley, 

Proprietor. 



M 



BARABOO ADVERTISEMENTS-(coDciuded ) 



STAFFORD, DROWN & CO., 

BARABOO, : : : WISCONSIN, 

DEALERS IN 

DRY GOODS, GROCERIES, CROCKERY, 

BOOTS, SHOES, HATS CAPS, 
CLOTHS, CLOTHING, YANKEE NOTIONS, 

Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc/ 
All kinds of Fann Produce taken in exchange for 
Goods at Market Rates. 

SELL 

DRY GOODS, GROCERIES, BOOTS, SHOES, HATS, 
CAPS, CROCKERY, GLASS-WARE, NOTIONS. 

And bny Farm Produce at Reasonable Rates. 
BARABOO, : : : WISCONSIN.. 

MANUFACTURERS OF 

HUBS, SPOKES, SAWED FELLOES, 

Capacity, fifty sets Wagon wood-work complete per diem of ten hours. 

BARABOO, : : : WISCONSIN. 



TDonneley, Blacksmith, New Haven or 
• Corners, Sauk County, Wisconsin. 

MERRBMACK ADVERTISEMENTS. 



King's 



G'W. Calkins, Pliysi<iian and Surgeon, Merri- 
• mack, Wisconsin. 

Parfrey's G-ristmill, H miles north of Merri- 

i muck. Custom Work done with care. ROBERT PARFREY. 

Q K. Hovey, Shoemaker, Merrimack, 



OUTLINE 
SKETCHES OF SAUK COUNTY. 



B"2- TTV. H. GJ^lSrFIJBlLlD . 



THE ABOVE WORK IS NOW BEING PUBLISHED IN A SERIES OP 
numbers in pamphlet form, and will be sent to Subscribers — to their re- 
spective Post Otlice addresses, at One Cent per page. (The maximum price of 
the Series will be $8,00." The minimum as much less as it might fall short of 
the 300 pages). 

The Series is intended to contain a full topographical and chorographical 
description of the County — illustrated by Maps (transferred from the plate of 
the Count}'' Map, with corrections up to the present time), of the 23 towns 
separately. 

Also, the Chronology of all organized bodies; Reminiscences of early settlers; 
The U. S. Census of the County in tabular form, together with much' other iii- 
teresting matter. 

The assistance of the citizens of the County for information and subscription 
is respectfully solicited. Wm. H. CANFII^LD. 



H. J. 0CH8NER, 

Manufacturer and Dealer 

IN 

BOOTS, SHOES, HIDES, 

PATENT LEATHER, ETC. 

Casta Paid For 

CALF AND SHEEP SKfNS AND WOOL. 

Phairie du Sac, Wis. 

SAMUEL KELSEY, 

Mannfactnrer of Plows ud Wigons, k. 

Prairie du Sac, Wis 
H. OTcliEl¥!«fAI¥, 
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, 
S-A.XJK: CIT"5r. 



SMITH S. WILKINSOF, | 
Attorney & ConBsellor at Law, 

AND 
IWOT.A.l^-X- 3E»X733XiIC, 

Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co., Wis. 

Particular attcntiou r/iven to Collect 
hig Debts, Paying Taxes, &c. 



J. S. TRIPP, 
Attorney & CouiBScllor 

Commissioner of Deeds for the State 
of New York, 

And General Land Agent, 

Sauk Cixr, Sauk Co., Wis. 

BAXTER HOrSE, 

D. R. BAXTER, .... Proprietor. 



'7c 



